Article categories: News
Safer Everyday Life Belongs to Everyone – Week Against Racism is Celebrated 16–22 March 2026
Published: 13.3.2026
The Week Against Racism is celebrated 16–22 March 2026. The theme of the week is safety. A safer municipality. A safer city. A safer school. A safer workplace. A safer community. The theme serves as a reminder that equality and safety are built through everyday encounters and actions, and that each one of us can intervene in racism.
The City of Vaasa’s work against racism is an ongoing process, and the city as an employer does not accept any form of inappropriate treatment or harassment. By highlighting the theme during the Week Against Racism, we want to encourage both the recognition of racism and active anti-racist actions.
– Each of us can promote safety and anti-racism through everyday actions, such as being kind, listening and engaging with others, intervening in inappropriate behaviour, and offering support. It’s also worthwhile to reflect on one’s own prejudices, as concerns and prejudices are often behind racist behaviour, says Hanna Kakko, Head of Integration Services at the City of Vaasa.
Municipalities Have a Special Responsibility in Anti-Racism Work
Since municipalities are responsible for a large part of residents’ everyday basic services, they have a special responsibility to ensure that everyone can feel safe and be met as they are. Continuous anti-racism work is an important part of how we develop the city into a safe and equal place that reflects all of its residents.
The goal of the City of Vaasa’s equality and non-discrimination work is for all residents to receive equally high-quality and safe services regardless of their background. Vaasa is an international and multicultural city where nearly a hundred languages are spoken and where diversity is a strength. As an employer, the City of Vaasa has zero tolerance for inappropriate treatment, discrimination, and harassment.
What Is Racism?
Racism is an ideology where human groups are defined as inferior based on factors such as ethnic origin, skin colour, language, culture, nationality, or religion. It can manifest as individual acts, such as name-calling or hate speech, but also in structural forms. Structural racism refers to practices or policies that directly or indirectly discriminate against people from certain groups, for example in working life, education, the housing market, or services.