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National Security at Any Cost? Investigating Finnish-Russian Border Closure and International Human Rights Compliance
No full textThis thesis examines whether Finland’s decision to close the border with Russia in late 2023 breached the state’s international human rights obligations. The decision was reached promptly in response to a threat of a hybrid operation along the Finnish-Russian border. The closure, which centralised the submission of asylum applications to air and maritime border points, effectively denied access to asylum procedures along land borders. This thesis investigates the legal validity of these measures, weighing Finland’s national security concerns against its obligations under international, European and national human rights frameworks.
The right to seek asylum is enshrined in multiple legal instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). European Union law further mandates that Member States provide genuine and effective access to asylum procedures, as outlined in the Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU). Finnish national laws, such as the Constitution and the Border Guard Act, also guarantee compliance with the principle of non-refoulement and the right to apply for asylum.
The Finnish government justified the border closure by citing national security risks and hybrid threats orchestrated by Russia, arguing that instrumentalized migration was being used to destabilize the state. However, the decision left asylum seekers with no practical means of accessing Finnish territory, raising concerns about potential breaches of the principle of non-refoulement and the procedural rights of asylum seekers. A closer analysis of similar border measures implemented in Poland and Lithuania, which have been heavily criticized by European courts, further underscores the potential unlawfulness of Finland’s actions under EU law and the ECHR.
The findings suggest that Finland’s measures likely breached its international obligations by undermining the rights of asylum seekers. While national security is a legitimate concern, this thesis argues that such actions must remain proportionate and compliant with human rights law. It emphasizes the need for Finland to adopt policies that address security threats without compromising its legal and moral commitments to protecting asylum seekers.
This study contributes to ongoing debates on migration management in the context of instrumentalized migration and the legal responsibilities of states within the European Union
Russia’s Post-Ukraine Land Force Reconstitution and Future Operational Concepts
No full text1. What are the military-industrial, technological, and economic constraints on Russia’s ability to rebuild its land forces after the war in Ukraine ends?
2. How might the war and its military expansion plans impact future operational concept evolution
Key Lessons of Russia’s Ground Warfare in Ukraine
No full text1. What have been the key shifts in military tactics and technological innovations during the Russo-Ukrainian War since its outset in 2022, and how have these shifts impacted both sides' effectiveness?
2. How do the historical military deficiencies of the Russian Armed Forces influence their current performance in Ukraine, and how have recent adaptations addressed these issues?
3. What lessons can be learned from the evolving roles of artillery, UAVs, and operational tactics in the Russo-Ukrainian War, and what implications do these lessons have for future conventional warfare
The impact of family life on the child ́s psychological well-being during the transition from grade 6 to grade 7 : A longitudinal survey study
No full textSyftet med denna avhandling var att undersöka familjelivets påverkan på barnets psykiska välbefinnande vid övergången från årskurs 6 till årskurs 7. Studien bygger på följande frågeställningar: Hurudana samband finns det mellan barns familjetillfredsställelse i årskurs 6 och deras livstillfredsställelse i årskurs 7? Framkommer könsskillnader i sambandet? Materialet samlades in inom ramen för forskningsprojektet SAMSYN vid Åbo Akademi genom en longitudinell enkätstudie som elever svarade på lektionen. Data som användes i denna studie samlades in på hösten 2022 och hösten 2023. I studien inkluderades 285 elever från sjätte klassen. Som mått på psykiskt välbefinnande (livstillfredsställelse) och upplevelser av familjelivet (familjetillfredsställelse) användes standardiserade mätinstrument. Resultaten visade ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan barns upplevda familjetillfredsställelse under årskurs 6 och livstillfredsställelse under årskurs 7. Resultatet visar en viss skillnad mellan flickor och pojkar i upplevda livstillfredsställelse och familjetillfredsställelse. Resultatet visar behov att stöd och resurser för elevers psykiska välbefinnande vid övergången från årskurs 6 till årskurs 7
DSD Athletes’ Rights and the Positive Obligations of States under the European Convention on Human Rights
No full textSport – like any other section of society – is not free from negative aspects of life. Different breaches, such as human rights violations, happen also in the world of sport. Powerful sports organisations might hold a great deal of power in relation to athletes and other individuals working with sport. However, these organisations might not face proper consequences when committing acts harmful for the protection of human rights. That is why states as bearers of international obligations should ensure the fulfilment of human rights for individuals under their jurisdiction.
One of the grey areas on which the sports world has received criticism is the treatment of female athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) and their possibility to compete in the female classification in international competitions. DSD athletes are claimed to hold advantages due to their condition, even if scientific proof on such advantages is scarce. Nevertheless, these athletes are forced to take hormone treatment if they wish to continue competing on the international level. The DSD regulations have been criticised for having continued the history of “sex testing” in athletics and humiliating athletes with DSD.
The purpose of this thesis is to map and define what kind of human rights concerns lie in the regulation of DSD athletes by sports organisations. First, it is defined what kind of human rights breaches the DSD procedures constitute. Second, the discussion is turned to which actors can be held liable for these breaches, and especially the positive obligations of states are under discussion. The European Convention on Human Rights has been chosen as the context for the thesis because all the relevant international sports organisations have their headquarters in states that are members of the Council of Europe and state parties to the European Convention on Human Rights. The research questions are formulated quite traditionally, and the study will therefore follow a doctrinal model of research.
Possible breaches are discussed in regard to Articles 3, 8 and 14 of the ECHR. As DSD athletes often have to choose between hormone treatment and leaving their career behind, the consent for the treatments cannot be considered completely free. These kind of medical interventions without a free and informed consent might constitute a violation of Article 3. As the scope of Article 8 is quite broad, there are several aspects in the treatment of DSD athletes that might constitute a breach of the Article. For example, the athletes’ privacy is in jeopardy when their medical records or information on their condition are published. When it comes to Article 14, the prohibition of discrimination in conjunction with the other rights, especially the treatment of DSD athletes compared to other female athletes raises concerns.
In the second part of the thesis, the positive obligations of states are in focus. As sports organisations are not able to accede treaties, they cannot be held directly accountable for their human rights breaches. Positive obligations oblige states to protect individuals under their jurisdiction also from breaches committed by non-state actors. The European Court of Human Rights has in its case law established that for positive obligations to arise, the requirements of state knowledge, causation and reasonableness have to be fulfilled. The assessment by the Court of these standards is, however, quite ambiguous and therefore it is difficult to estimate how the Court would decide on a case regarding the DSD regulations.
While exhaustive answers to the research questions are difficult to give, the thesis does present grounds on which it would be possible for the European Court of Human Rights to find a violation in the treatment of DSD athletes. As the Court interprets the ECHR as a living instrument, it is probable that the scope of positive obligations will not narrow in the future, as non-state actors gain more power and individuals should be protected also from breaches by these actors. At the same time, sports organisations themselves should adopt a human rights-based approach to ensure the protection of individuals in their activities
