Social sustainability and well-being are at the heart of the City’s activities, as they are directly related to the basic public services provided by Helsinki.
The theme of social sustainability is broad and linked in particular to the SDGs below, which relate to health and well-being, learning, reduced inequalities and equality. Globally speaking, Helsinki is a very healthy and vibrant city, with no major challenges in terms of primary medical care or hunger, for example.
Our learning outcomes and education and training services are also outstanding. Our challenges in this theme relate in particular to the segregation of children and young people by ethnicity and economic background, mental well-being, obesity, violence in close relationships and the promotion of equality.
Health and welfare
Health and well-being promotion involves preventive support and activities carried out jointly by all operators, based on sustainable development, to boost the resources of different population groups in order to improve living conditions and other structural conditions, and support equal opportunities for people to take control of their health and well-being.
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Learning
Helsinki wants to be the world’s most effective place to learn. The City offers high-quality and attractive local services in early childhood education and basic education. The growing Helsinki is in constant need of active procedures and investments in order to be able to provide everyone with open, equal and high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities. Mental well-being challenges make learning more difficult.
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Non-discrimination and gender equality
Helsinki aims to be a city built on human rights, where all people are allowed to be seen and heard and can live and participate as equals without any kind of direct or indirect discrimination. Achieving this goal requires strong commitment and sustained and determined work to promote equality and non-discrimination in the city and City organisation.
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Reducing inequalities and segregation
In global terms, Helsinki is at a good level in many issues related to inequality. Nevertheless, inequalities and marginalisation are among the most serious problems in Helsinki. The city’s regional disparities in terms of income, health and safety must be reduced. Segregation is also a persistent and long-term problem, even though many City programmes and objectives have been trying to reduce it for years. In particular, Helsinki seeks to influence the development of segregation in its four suburban regeneration areas.
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Participation
Participation means equal opportunities to participate, resident involvement in the City’s planning and participatory decision-making. By global standards, participation opportunities and interaction are at a good level in Helsinki.
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Safety and risk management
The COVID-19 pandemic has slightly reduced people’s sense of security in their own neighbourhoods. Experiences of insecurity are still clearly more common among women, but Helsinki remains a safe place to live by international standards.
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