In an aim to be more inclusive, Finland's natural resource management firm Metsähallitus is now using the gender-neutral term "Everyone's Rights" rather than "Everyman's Rights" in its communications, the outfit announced on Monday.
Everyone's Rights — jokaisenoikeudet in Finnish — refer to the right of every person to use nature, regardless of who owns or controls the property.
The term previously used was Everyman's Rights, or jokamiehenoikeudet in Finnish.
Everyone equal before nature
Everyone is equal before nature and that Everyone's Rights belong to everyone, according to Liina Aulin, Metsähallitus communications director.
"Words influence our thinking, and we want our communication to be part of the effort to promote equality," Aulin noted.
The change is also linked to the Council of Europe's call for the promotion of equal use of language, which dates back to 1990. The Finnish Language Board also issued a recommendation on the issue in 2007.
According to Metsähallitus, the term 'Everyone's Rights' has been occasionally used in the media and other communications methods. The new version of the well-known term has not yet become established in the common language.
The firm said it wants to play its part in helping to establish the new term and at the same time promote equality.
The organisation manages state-owned land and water areas, accounting for one-third of Finland's surface area, and therefore Aulin said there was an opportunity for Metsähallitus to set an example.
Metsähallitus' gender-neutral push
"At the same time, we want to encourage other organisations to use the term 'Everyone's Rights'," Aulin added.
Metsähallitus has already changed terms it uses to be gender-neutral. For example, at the beginning of this year, employees were given gender-neutral job titles, removing the word 'man' from certain job titles in Finnish.
"Everyone's Rights are traditional rights that allow all people certain rights and freedoms to move in nature and use natural resources without owning land," Metsähallitus said.
Everyone's Rights are not as encompassing in certain protected areas. For example, in national parks and nature reserves they are subject to various restrictions.
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