The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been found guilty of gender discrimination by the Supreme Court, following a case that has spanned over five years. The court ruled that the ministry discriminated against a female diplomat who applied for various positions in compliance with a job rotation scheme, including deputy head roles in embassies located in the Middle East and Africa.

As a consequence of losing the case, the Ministry is obligated to pay a total of €88,615.90 in compensation, which includes both the damages awarded to the diplomat and the legal costs incurred throughout the process. The ministry's legal expenses amounted to €37,491.40 in the district court, €34,875 in the court of appeal, and €11,355 in the Supreme Court, underscoring the financial impact of this legal defeat.

The initial decision was made by the Helsinki District Court in March 2022, and the Ministry's subsequent appeals to both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court maintained the original ruling. This case highlights ongoing issues surrounding gender equality in Finnish public service and may have wider implications for employment practices within government roles in Finland, emphasizing the need for fairness in recruitment processes.