The northernmost Seri Support Centre in Finland helps Sámi people who have encountered sexual violence

Violence against women is common in Finland by international standards, and approximately 50,000 women in Finland are victims of sexual violence every year. Sexual rights are human rights that belong to all of us. These include the right to information about sexuality and the right to sexual health services.

There is plenty of work to be done to ensure these rights are respected and promoted in the development of services provided in Sámi languages in a culturally sensitive manner. There are approximately 10,000 Sámi in Finland. Approximately one third of the Sámi live in the Sámi homeland, which comprises the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki as well as the northern part of the municipality of Sodankylä. 

Under the Istanbul Convention, easily accessible Seri Support Centres have been established in Finland for those who have experienced sexual violence. The majority of Sámi living in Finland live outside the Sámi homeland and can use the services of their nearest Seri Support Centre. The Seri Support Centre, which operates in the municipality of Inari, provides help and support to those who have been victims of sexual violence in the Sámi homeland.     

Ivalo Health Centre is the home to the northernmost Seri Support Centre in Finland

Distances are long in Northern Finland. The distance to Rovaniemi, where specialised medical care is available, is 450 km from Utsjoki and 300 km from Ivalo. The northernmost Seri Support Centre in Finland was established in 2022 at the Ivalo health centre in the municipality of Inari in order to ensure people living in Northern Finland have access to the service and to lower the threshold for seeking treatment.

The Seri Support Centre is staffed by doctors and nurses trained in sample collection and treatment of patients who are victims of sexual violence. The goal is to make the service as accessible as possible to victims of sexual violence so that they can get the examinations and support they need. Many victims feel ashamed of what happened, which is why some may not seek help and undergo a sexual assault examination.

However, sexual assault is never the victim's fault. Everyone has the right to receive help regardless of their culture or background.

Psychosocial support in Sámi languages

A unit providing psychosocial support in Sámi in a culturally sensitive manner called Uvjj - Uvjâ - Uvja has been established in the wellbeing services county of Lapland. The unit operates nationwide, and the service is free of charge. The unit’s national helpline is available weekdays from 8:00 to 16:00 at +358 40 663 8882. The unit offers low-threshold services, and it can also be contacted anonymously. Service is available in Northern, Skolt and Inari Sámi as well as in Finnish.

In addition, health care professionals are offered Sámi language courses in the wellbeing services county of Lapland. This includes getting to know the Sámi culture. In the future, the goal is to have more Sámi-speaking nursing staff members, which will improve the availability of services in the local languages and ensure that patients are seen by someone who understands their culture.
At the Seri Support Centre, patients have the option to be accompanied by a Sámi-speaking interpreter during sample collection and follow-up visits. In addition, the Seri Support Centre can refer customers to other services that meet their needs, such as Uvj-Uvjâ-Uvja. 

Lapland wellbeing services county’s multiprofessional working group develops services while listening to the needs of the Sámi population

Members of the network represent experts in sexual violence and the Sámi language and culture. The working group wants to understand the current challenges of seeking help related to sexual violence and the service needs of the Sámi population related to the Seri Support Centre. The aim is to improve the accessibility and quality of the services and to lower the threshold for Sámi customers to seek services intended for them.   

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Seri-toorjâkuávdááh Suomâst (THL) (in Inari Sámi)
Seri-doarjjaguovddážat Suomas (THL) (in Northern Sámi)
Uvjj – Uvjâ – Uvja offers low-threshold mental health services in Sámi and Finnish (in Inari, Northern and Skolt Sámi and Finnish)
Seri Support Centre for victims of sexual violence (THL) (in Finnish)