Swedish translation of the Finnish integration glossary published
A Swedish translation of the Finnish integration glossary has been published. The glossary was originally published in Finnish together with the Swedish equivalents in June 2021. Definitions and comments of terms in Swedish have now been added to the glossary.
The integration glossary will harmonise the use of concepts of the Integration Act and services specified by it. The work on the glossary has focused on defining concepts related to the Integration Act (Act on the Promotion of Immigration Integration) and key integration services. Concepts of equality, inclusion and discrimination have also been included in the glossary.
Terms have been evaluated from the perspective of equality: do the concepts promote equality or reduce it? Based on the evaluation, the term maahanmuuttanut has been added to the glossary alongside the term maahanmuuttaja. The first term clearly indicates a person who has moved to the country. According to the glossary, the term maahanmuuttaja should not be used when referring to persons presumed to be immigrants, for example on the basis of their name, appearance or mother tongue.
The Swedish term invandrad can be used to replace the term invandrare. The term invandrare is often used in legislation, but it is considered to have a negative tone. The term nyanlända invandrare is also used in legislation in Sweden.
Promoting the receptiveness of society also promotes integration
Integration is a two-way or multi-dimensional process in which the surrounding society also changes and evolves as a result of immigration. The concept of integration in Swedish and English describes this two-way approach well.
However, the glossary defines the concept of kotoutuminen as an individual process by an immigrant occurring in interaction with society and during which the immigrant’s participation, inclusion and equality in society will increase. The concepts of kotoutuminen and yhteiskunnan vastaanottavuus describe a two-way process.
The term kotouttaminen has been replaced with the term kotoutumisen edistäminen. The term kotouttaminen is not recommended as the term can be interpreted to mean that an immigrant is merely an object of activity and does not have an active role in integration. Promoting integration also involves promoting the receptiveness of society.
Work on glossary to continue
In particular, the work on concepts of personal roles will continue in cooperation with stakeholders, such as various organisations and the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO).
The work on the glossary will also be carried out as part of the development of key integration services: New concepts may be added to the glossary in connection with the reform of the Integration Act and services promoting integration.
Multisectoral working group prepared the glossary
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Finnish Terminology Centre launched the project on integration glossary in August 2019. The working group preparing the glossary included representatives of the Ministry of Justice (ETNO), ELY Centres, TE Services, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Family Federation of Finland, Finnish National Agency for Education, and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The working group met several times to discuss the glossary in 2019–2021.
The integration glossary has been published as a bilingual first edition in the publication series of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. New concepts may be added to the glossary in connection with the reform of the Integration Act and services promoting integration.
More information:
Integration glossary (in Finnish and Swedish)