Finland

Previous reports: 2024 | 2023/24

Principal EBCO concerns

• Alternative service is punitive and discriminatory in terms of longer duration (more than 2x that of military service).

• Poor availability of information about the right to conscientious objection.

• Reports that conscripts are deterred by military officers from applying to be transferred to alternative service.

• Plans to reform non-military service and steer towards “comprehensive security” and “preparedness”.

• Plans to introduce an obligatory national defence day for 17 year-olds. Military courses already offered to 16-17 year-olds.

• No full guarantee of international protection for conscientious objectors to military service who are at risk of persecution in their country of origin.

Based on the reply of the Ministry of Defence to the EBCO questionnaire and reporting by EBCO's Finnish member, AKL (Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto - the Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors)²:

Developments

Effective 1 January 2026, the maximum age for liability of reservist duties is raised from 60 to 65 (rank-and-file reservists in the actual reserve could previously serve up until the age of 50). Non-military service liability has been aligned accordingly where reservist objectors belong to the additional reserve and need to perform a 3-day-long supplementary service until the age of 65.³

In 2026, the government is planning to establish a reform to the Non-Military Service Act which is planned to enter into force in the beginning of 2027. In preparation to that, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM), together with several ministries and the Non-Military Service Centre, prepared an assessment memorandum on developing non-military service and possible legislative amendments as part of a Government Programme project to link the system more closely to “comprehensive security.”⁴ service).

The memorandum recommends retaining the current structure (short training followed by a long work placement), while steering placements increasingly toward tasks considered central to preparedness. It also outlines alternative organisational models (e.g., longer training, preparedness-oriented content), while acknowledging risks such as higher costs and reduced placement options.

Currently the reform of the Non-Military Service Act is being prepared by a working group with participation from the Ministry of Defence. At the same time, a civil society representative of conscientious objectors (AKL) was excluded from the working group just before its work began.⁵ AKL states that this raises concerns about meaningful participation and civilian oversight.

From a human rights perspective, AKL highlights the following:

• Reforms must not narrow alternative service into “security-critical” functions that undermine access for a broad range of religious, ethical and political convictions protected by freedom of conscience.

• Application processes should remain clear, accessible, and independent of military command.

• AKL welcomes the memorandum’s recommendation to allow switching between military and non-military service while preserving credit for days already served. Removing day-credit would make alternative service more punitive and deter in-service conscientious objection.⁶

• Any such training for non-military service must remain civilian in purpose, content, and command, and must not impose coercive duties that conflict with conscience or discriminate compared with reservist obligations.

• The memorandum does not recommend extending conviction investigations to supplementary-service applications in normal circumstances. AKL warns that expanding such procedures would significantly restrict practical access to conscientious objection; if used, they must be independent of military influence, accessible, and subject to effective review and appeal.

The public discussion on broadening the call-up base to conscription to the entire age cohort continues.⁷

Conscription provisions and procedures

According to Ministry of Defence figures, under 2% of conscripts sign up for subsequent voluntary service annually (no more than 600).

Regarding reserve service, refresher training orders are compulsory, normally notified ≥3 months in advance. Maximum cumulative days are 200 for officers/NCOs, 150 for demanding rank‐and‐file, and 80 for other rank‐and‐file.

In specific border‐security disturbances, shorter‐notice call‐ups are possible by law (amendment to Conscription Act §§32, 48).

Conscientious objection provisions and procedures

Applications of conscientious objectors for non-military service are decided upon by the Regional Offices in peacetime, whereas in special circumstances, cases may go to the Board for the Examination of Conscript Convictions established under the Non‐Military Service Act.

During war, the body comprises mainly civilians appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Justice, the Helsinki University, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. There is also a member representing the Non-military Service Centre and one representing the Defence Forces.

There are around 2000 applications per year (not including reservist applications which range from 1500 to 3800 in recent years), all of which are accepted. Decisions can be appealed to an Administrative Court; further leave‐to‐appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court). During war, appeals must be given priority in Courts.

The non-military service includes a 4‐week basic training at the Non-military Service Centre, and subsequently work service at approved non‐profit/public service locations (~1,500 nationwide), generally state and municipal authorities and wellbeing services. COs have relatively free choice for placements, and the process resembles regular job recruiting with placement applications sent to approved organisations.

Total objectors, i.e. those who refuse to perform both military and non-military service, face imprisonment equal to half of the remaining service time (Non‐Military Service Act §74). Their number was 25 in 2025 (up from 16 in 2024).

Voluntary recruitment

Women’s voluntary service is governed by the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women (194/1995).

In recent application rounds: 1,448 women applied for voluntary military service in the round ending Jan 15, 2025.⁸ 1,360 women applied in the round ending Jan 15, 2026.⁹ Once the initial 30 days pass, women are treated as conscripts and have the same liabilities as other conscript categories.¹⁰

Conscientious objection during and after military service

Almost half of non-military service applications (approx. ~1000 annually) are made during military service, indicating ongoing information barriers. Finnish law requires authorities to provide sufficient information on applying for and performing non-military service. In practice information is often limited or uneven during call-ups.¹¹ Apparently, that leads to a high rate of applications during military service.

Moreover, during military service, conscripts who seek to change to non-military service may face pressure and/or delays, despite the legal requirement that applications be processed without delay.¹² These practices undermine the effective accessibility of conscientious objection.

Asylum for conscientious objectors

Cases involving conscientious objection grounds occur in practice: Yle reported a case from November 2025 of a Russian draft-evader seeking asylum in Finland who fears return because of opposing war and draft policies; he received a negative decision and faced transfer to Lithuania under the Dublin system. In Lithuania, he was further at risk of being deported to Russia, because his way of arriving in the country was seen as illegal from the Lithuanian perspective.¹³

Finnish authorities have returned or are returning families who cited draft-avoidance and political opposition as reasons for asylum claims.¹⁴ A substantial number of Russian nationals have sought asylum invoking fear of mobilisation and service; decisions have been mixed and many applications remain pending for extended periods. Local reporting indicates extended processing times beyond legal limits, causing stress and claims of underestimation of risk by authorities.¹⁵

Militarisation of the education system

The proposal from a governmental working group to introduce a National Defence Day, or Call-up Information Day, for all 17-year-olds in secondary education has yet to become law.¹⁶

Voluntary military-style introductory courses for minors (from age 16 and up) offered by the Association for National Defence Education, which proponents promote as familiarisation with military life, continue.^17,18

1. Military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2026.↩︎
2. More info about the organisation at: https://akl-web.fi/en↩︎
3. Government of Finland / Ministry of Defence 22 Dec 2025. Finland to raise reservist age limit to 65 years as of 2026. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/236553176/finland-to-raise-reservist-age-limit-to-65-years-as-of-2026↩︎
4. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM) 2025. Development of Non-Military Service (TEM102:00/2024). https://valtioneuvosto.fi/hanke?tunnus=TEM102:00/2024↩︎
5. Helsingin Sanomat 23 May 2025. Aseistakieltäytyjät suljettiin ulos työryhmästä. https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000011251315.html↩︎
6. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/concluding-observations/ccprcfinco7-concluding-observations-seventh-periodic-report↩︎
7. Yle 6 Dec 2025. Puolustusvoimain komentaja asevelvollisuudesta ikäluokkien pienentyessä: ”Mistä muualta se otetaan kuin naisista?” https://yle.fi/a/74-20197945↩︎
8. Finnish Defence Forces 15 Jan 2025. 1,448 women applied to voluntary military service. https://maavoimat.fi/-/yli-1400-naista-haki-vapaaehtoiseen-asepalvelukseen↩︎
9. Finnish Defence Forces 15 Jan 2026. Altogether 1,360 women applied to voluntary military service. https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/-/1950813/altogether-1360-women-applied-to-voluntary-military-service↩︎
10. Finnish Defence Forces n.d. Voluntary military service for women. https://intti.fi/en/voluntary-military-service-for-women↩︎
11. Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto (AKL) n.d. Experiences of providing information during call-ups. https://akl-web.fi/fi/posts/kokemuksia-siviilipalveluksesta-tiedottamisesta-kutsunnoissa↩︎
12. Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto (AKL) n.d. Experiences of delays in processing non-military service applications. https://akl-web.fi/fi/posts/kokemuksia-viivyttelysta-siviilipalvelushakemuksen-kasittelyssa↩︎
13. Yle 6 Dec 2025. Russian draft evader asylum case. https://yle.fi/a/74-20191649↩︎
14. Yle 9 Jan 2026. Asylum case involving return citing draft avoidance. https://yle.fi/a/74-20202864↩︎
15. Yle 2024. Russian asylum seekers and mobilisation. https://yle.fi/a/74-20122140↩︎
16. Government of Finland 31 Jan 2024. Working group proposes a national defence day and pre-health checks for the entire age cohort. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/-/1410845/kutsuntatyoryhma-ehdottaa-yhteista-maanpuolustuspaivaa-ja-ennakkoterveystarkastuksia-koko-ikaluokalle↩︎
17. Association for National Defence Education (MPK) n.d. Course calendar (minimum age 16). https://koulutuskalenteri.mpk.fi/Default.aspx?tabid=1054&id=181035↩︎
18. Association for National Defence Education (MPK) n.d. Youth training information. https://mpk.fi/koulutukset/nuorten-koulutus/↩︎