Fostering good relations

Good relations concern all of us. That is why everyone can also contribute to good relations: as individuals, civil society organisation activists, professionals, experts. Fostering good relations starts from little things such as humane encounters, smiles and taking others into consideration.

It is also possible for organisations strategically to promote good relations both internally and in their relations with other actors and customers. A positive attitude among the organisation’s management and personnel to diversity lays the foundation for trust and respect between people from different backgrounds. Diversity management enables community wellbeing and better utilisation of the community members’ know-how.

As part of their implementation of equality planning, private businesses, third-sector actors and public-sector organisations etc. can all foster good relations. Equality planning is a concrete way of promoting the Good Relations Model. Taking the model into account while drawing up the equality plan ensures that good relations are incorporated into the organisation’s strategy, measures are designed for fostering good relations and their implementation is monitored using a specific set of indicators.

Here are some thoughts on opportunities for fostering good relations available to various actors

Facilitating meeting places. Third-sector actors provide premises for meeting and interaction among target groups of different backgrounds. When planning activities, it is considered carefully whether the target group benefits more from cooperation with other population groups or whether there are grounds for arranging differentiated services for them. When activities are planned and premises are provided, attention is also paid to sufficient personnel resources for the employees who create contacts and arrange meetings between members of different population groups.
Good Relations are taken into account in activities. Activities provided by the third sector (clubs, workshops, training etc.) identify target groups belonging to population segments in the weakest social position (minorities, older people, the unemployed, etc.). In planning activities, it is considered how they can influence relations affecting people and how people experience relations.

Anti-racism commitment. By signing the commitment, political parties send a strong message against racism, discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes.
Communication about diversity. Communication to voters maintain trust in a diverse society. Political campaigning has no room for rhetoric advocating inequality among population groups.

Equality planning. Businesses with more than 30 employees are required by law to draw up equality plans. Smaller employers can also draft such a plan. The plans make strategic use of models for good relations in order to implement equality among both employees and customers in practice.
Communication about diversity. Communication to customers and employees maintain trust in a diverse workplace and create a positive consumer identity.

Relations between population groups become a concrete reality at the local government level, and municipalities can specifically emphasise functions fostering good relations:

Equality planning. The plans drawn up by municipalities make strategic use of models for good relations in order to develop services. Municipal services support the capacities and inclusion of all individuals.
Communication about diversity. Communication to local residents maintain trust in a diverse municipality and create a positive local identity.
Management by funding. The criteria for awarding municipal grants emphasise the effects that the activities funded have on good relations and on equality between local residents.
Facilitating meeting places. A municipality or a city provides premises where local residents of different backgrounds can meet and interact. When premises are provided, attention is also paid to sufficient personnel resources for the employees who create contacts and arrange meetings between members of different population groups.
Equal urban planning. Realisation of equality between various population groups is taken into account when existing and new residential areas are planned. Inclusive urban planning provides information about places causing insecurity, and timely measures can be taken to redesign them so that they are safe to all residents. In addition, a conscious effort is made to use planning as a tool for avoiding inequality between residential areas.
Good Relations are taken into account in services. Services provided by the municipality (early childhood education and care, schools, child welfare clinics, health centres, social welfare, etc.) identify target groups belonging to population segments in the weakest social position (minorities, older people, the unemployed, etc.). The customer’s situation is understood holistically with regard to both the service structure and relations between population groups. In consequence, customer work promotes the practical realisation of people’s equal opportunities.
Preventing and solving conflicts. By monitoring and actively influencing relations between population groups, municipalities can prevent conflicts in advance. Conflicts between population groups can be solved by means of conflict resolution and mediation methods.

In central government, promoting good relations means strategic exertion of influence and implementation of the themes in the respective administrative branches.

Application of Good Relations policies. Organisations operating in central government pay attention to the impacts of relations in their own administrative branches and understand which relations have a cross-cutting effect on the realisation of equality between citizens.
Communication about diversity. Communications to citizens maintains trust in a diverse Finland.
Management by funding. The criteria for grants awarded by government emphasise the effects that the activities funded have on good relations and on equality between citizens.

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Fostering good relations

Non-governmental actors

Political parties

Businesses

Municipalities & Counties

Central government