March 21 is celebrated as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination across the globe
As part of the global celebration, African Anti-Racism Society Finland ry (AFARS) which was founded in 2020 highlights their mission, vision and why people should join the NGO
Mission
We educate, advocate, and take action to fight racism and institutional and structural discrimination in Finland. In solidarity, we will create a better society
that transcends all forms of discrimination.
Vision
To create a strong, conscious, self-sufficient, and empowered society of Africans and people of African descent in Finland where its members are politically, economically, and socially stable, proud, and free, and not subject to any form of persecution or discrimination.
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION
a)The main purpose of the organization is to organize and rally all the Africans and people of African descent in Finland en masse towards emancipation,
empowerment, and fight for social justice, human rights and against the racism and institutional discrimination that we face in Finland.
b) To offer solidarity for and among the people of African descent.
(c) To advocate and lobby for a fair society for our community in Finland in order to achieve a better life for all Africans and people of African descent in Finland.
(d) To collaborate with all progressive forces in support of the fight for social justice, human rights, and against racial discrimination in Finland.
(e) To instigate or support integration processes and political participation of our community in Finland.
(f) To eradicate all forms of colonialism, afrophobia and anti-blackness in Finland.
(g) To promote Human Rights, social justice, equity, and the rule of law.
(h) To advocate for transparency and accountability in police and law enforcement misconduct towards Africans and people of African descent in Finland.
(I) To promote unity, peace, and tranquillity in our community.
(j) To provide solidarity and resources to Africans and people of African descent who encounter racism in order that they may get the necessary emotional and mental support to heal and deal with the trauma and pains of racism, and to be empowered to report racism to the police.and the rule of law;
(h) To advocate for transparency and accountability in police and law enforcement violence towards Africans and people of African descent in Finland;
(I) To promote unity, peace and tranquillity in our community;
(j) To provide solidarity and resources to Africans and people of African descent who encounter racism in order to offer get emotional and mental
support to process the trauma and pains of racism and to be empowered to report racism to the police.
Our Principles
1.Peaceful nonviolent civil disobedience, settlement of disputes by negotiation, mediation, reconciliation.
2. We practice and believe in the force argument and not the argument of force.
3. Democratic means of engagement based on one man one vote.
4. Gender equality in all activities.
5. Religious plurality in the approach to all matters.
6. Accountability in the application of resources and all affairs
7. Solidarity for Human Rights, social justice and equality.
8. Leadership and positions in the movement not prestige but for service.
AFARS logo
1) The history of AFARS.
African Anti-Racism Society Finland ry (AFARS) is a non-governmental organization founded in 2020 by a group of African activists and community
organizers in Helsinki. AFARS inception stems from the massive black lives matter protests that erupted globally last summer. We were inspired and
called to action by the death of George Floyd and global police brutality targeting Africans and people of African descent to speak about the same
problems of daily racism, police brutality and institutional discrimination targeting the Sub-Sahara African community in Finland. AFARS was formed to organize a solidarity demonstration on the death of
George Floyd at the Helsinki police station and to establish a platform for anti-racism led by Sub-Sahara Africans in Finland. It was a call to action as we saw
that the lived experience of racism by Africans and people of African descent in Finland is a voice that is needed at the table in the conversation about racism
in Finland. As Finland and the world is changing with more diversity and representation in all sectors in Finnish society, it is more relevant now that we
have some representation of the voices of Africans living in Finland. Also, we believe that more platforms and voices speaking against racism will help
victims’ cope with the problem and may lead to eradication of racism. In Finland, Africans and people of African descent face racism from other
peoples of color. On platforms where they speak about racism, Africans are often excluded by those groups led by people of color due to their own racism and Afrophobia toward Sub-Sahara Africans. So, we think that we will be doing a disservice to ourselves if we don’t create own platform and a place that we
Africans and people of African descent can share their own perspective and lived experience of racism in Finland.
In Finland, the voices speaking about racism are the voices of people of color, we understand and respect their perspective and experiences of racism. At the
same time, we think that the perspective of Africans and people of African descent in Finland is also crucial to the discussion. So, it is important that we
tell our own perspective in our own voice, it is time for Africans in Finland to tell their own story by themselves. The reality is that people of a darker complexion and of a different background
and culture face more racism and are victims of racism more often. The other peoples of color can be more easily accepted in society and can be seen by
racist as less threatening. When the skin and appearance of a Sub-Sahara Africans get accepted in any society the other peoples of color will also benefit
from that acceptance. When the work and fight against racism is only from the experiences and
perspective of other peoples of color, the outcome will mostly go only to help them. When Sub-Sahara Africans champion the work in fighting racism in
Finland, the outcome will benefit all the other groups facing racism including all peoples of color. This is why we decided to start this new organization led
by Sub-Sahara Africans to bring our perspective and solutions into the conversation about racism in Finland.
OUR WORKS
Advocacy
“No justice, no peace“
African Anti-Racism Society (AFARS) Finland is the only African-led organization leading social justice and anti-racism in Finland. We were triggered into action by the death of George Floyd and we work in the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights and social justice
agenda. This includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, equal opportunities, and equity for all people in Finland regardless of ethnicity, religion, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality.
From left to right:
Faith Mkwesha, Eugene Ufoka and Fadumo Ali
INSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM ADVOCACY
The right to equal justice, jobs, and education under the law should not be conditional or based upon a person’s color or economic status. AFARS is a
vanguard movement to bring such equality to every community that has been unfairly treated. Using the principles of non-violent direct action and civil
disobedience, AFARS engages to level the field and ensure a measure of justice for those who abuse their status or seek to dispense justice based upon race or
other prejudicial factors. Police and law enforcement racial profiling, stop and frisk policing, and police brutality must be confronted. AFARS is committed to
the principles and practices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the tradition of non-violent engagement. Through its advocacy, AFARS continues to impact
public policy and ensure that the police and government itself is held accountable to the law.
POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BRUTALITY ADVOCACY
AFARS has been at the forefront of the fight to uphold police and law enforcement accountability, advocating locally. We issue public statements addressing racism and institutional discrimination, organize demonstrations and petition campaigns. AFARS has been leading the fight against police
misconduct and other injustices by ensuring that those whose rights are violated find justice. AFARS’ efforts were on display in response to events involving the Ghanaian who died in the hands of the Helsinki Police in 2018, the first solidarity demonstration at the Helsinki Police station in the summer 2020, protests fully led by the African community in Finland for the death of George Floyd and the very same problems of police and security mistreatment targeting Africans in Finland, and other incidents ever since. We also offer legal assistance through referrals and helping victims seek justice and healing.
INFLUENCING PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND NARRATIVES
We recognize the need for an African people-driven process of creating fairer, more just and equal society in Finland for all. Therefore, AFARS has been
committed in participating and influencing the public discussion around the issues of social justice and racism. Our purpose and goal is to raise the voices
and tell the stories of Africans in Finland and the injustices they face as a result of institutional discrimination and white supremacy. Through awareness and advocacy, we aim to challenge the misinformed narratives, expose and deal with Afrophobia and anti-blackness and to bring forth real change. Membership of AFARS, how one can join the NGO Membership is vital to the growth of an organization. It is the members and supporters that keep our organization prospering so that we can reach the needs of the people we fight for every day. Whether it is attending a protest, rally or demonstration, or volunteering an hour of your time in one of our
offices or events, it is you that keeps AFARS moving and developing – and we appreciate your interest and commitment in our fight to pursue equality and justice.
Membership of AFARS
a) Individual Membership: Membership is open to Africans, and people of African descent who are 18 years old and above including naturalized citizens
of any African country. It is also open to people who are interested in the fight against racism and discrimination in Finland. Individuals may apply for
membership by completing a membership form (in print or by electronic means) and shall pay a membership subscription fee of 10 euros or as may be
regulated by the Executive Committee from time to time.
b) Associate/Institutional Membership: Associate/Institutional membership fee shall be 20 euros annually, or as the Executive Committee may regulate from time to time.
All AFARS members shall enjoy equal rights and equal duties, including the right to vote and to be elected to the executive office. The members pledge themselves to actively participate in the activities of the organization for the furtherance of the organization’s vision and objectives including the observance of the principles enumerated in the organization’s charter.
Volunteering Benefits Personal fulfilment through service to the community and the individuals therein.
You engage in dialogue on the kind of change the world desires. You get opportunities to cultivate and develop your anti-racism activism skills
Networking and partnerships with activists, NGOs, and community organizers.
We provide forums for cultural exchange, education, and interactionYou are awarded the AFARS volunteers’ certificate of excellence and recognition.
For one to be a volunteer for AFARS they should:
Have a keen interest in working to fight racism, afrophobia, anti- blackness, and institutional and structural discrimination in Finland Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures of AFARS Be dependable and consistent in AFARS commitments. Attend mentor training sessions as prescribed. Be willing to communicate regularly with AFARS staff.
Be a law-abiding citizen and upholding the values, mission and principles of AFARS
Register as a Volunteer.
What challenge has AFARS experienced so far
Thus far our new organization have not faced any major challenge instead we have been warmly welcomed and supported by media and the entire country. But just as any new organization we are still focused on building our platform and looking for interested Africans and other person who are interested to join our team. Its not always easy to find right persons who are passionate and willing to do voluntary work in anti-racism. Nevertheless, this does not imply that we do not have a powerful team because we do but we are seeking more hands-on deck there is a lot of work to do together. What’s your take on racism in Finland and what the government should do to
ameliorate the situation? Racism is not a new thing in Finland it’s a plague that is as old as slavery and
colonialism just as in other European Countries. When ever we talk about racism, we must always remember it is something that was created and established by Europeans at the inception of slavery and lasted right up to colonialism. This historical background is very important is we want to understand the real nature of racism. Unfortunately, this is something that is
often left in today’s discussions about racism and this may lead to misinformation about racism. As such in Finland people turn to talk about racism as a matter of incidents and tracing it back just to recent years but that is not true. Racism is not about incidents it’s a systematic well-established issue hundred of years old.
Many academic researchers have been conducted about racism and institutional discrimination in Finland and all those research points out to the
fact that racism is alive and striving in Finland. The Stopped project Suvi Keskinen et al of the University of Helsinki reveals that Finnish police engage in
ethnic profiling despite ban because it’s against the Finnish law. The recent FRA research in 2018 also exposed the depth of institutional racism
that is at heart of the hostile environment policy in Finland, as the nation was ranked most racist in EU.
The FRA research shows that almost twenty years after adoption of EU laws forbidding discrimination, people of African descent in the Finland face widespread and entrenched prejudice and exclusion. This report outliness selected results from FRA’s second large-scale EU-wide survey on migrants and minorities EU-MIDIS II). It examines the experiences of almost 6,000 people of African descent in 12 EU Member States. According to FRA research Racial discrimination and harassment are commonplace. Experiences with racist violence vary greatly was worse in Finland to black Africans.
Africans face hurdles to inclusion are multi-faceted, with many respondents facing discrimination during their job search and when looking for housing. The
FRA survey results paint a dire picture of reality on the ground, for Africans and people of African descent in Finland and Europe. These FRA survey results also
now serve as an important WALK UP CALL FOR OUR COMMON UNITY AND
ORGANISED ACTIONS to tackle the problems, we face as a result of our skin colour and our Skin and origin.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS solutions to combat racism in Finland.
1. We advise that the police and security should take anti-racism training as part of their police training and wear bod cameras.
2.We recommend that Finnish government should look into making new regulations to ban police or security guards putting their victims during arrest on the ground with their stomachs, this can cause problems in breathing and can lead to death or hospitalization.
3. We recommend that police and security who continue doing the already ban random stop and search practice be held accountable for racial profiling.
4. We demand police and security in Finland to refrain from using unnecessary excessive force, heavy handed stereotypes approach when encountering black
people and other immigrant racial groups in Finland.
5. We strongly call for accountability for those police and security who commit discriminatory crimes in their actions, they should be brought to justice. This is one small step to combating racism in Finland.
