Red Cross survey: the vast majority consider intervening in racism experienced by children and young people to be important – less than one in four have intervened

“Racism is present in the everyday lives of too many young people. Many have faced racism in Finland throughout their lives. Racism may manifest as name-calling or excluding someone at school or in recreational groups, making assumptions about a young person’s abilities, or discriminating against them when they are looking for a traineeship or their first flat. Recurring experiences of racism are disheartening. They affect the young person’s chances in life and distort their image of themselves,” says Planning Officer Sanna Saarto, who plans the Finnish Red Cross’s anti-racism activities. 

Of those who responded to the survey, 81% consider the racism experienced by children and young people to be a serious problem. 92% consider it to be important to intervene in racism experienced by children and young people. Through the survey, the Finnish Red Cross studied people’s attitudes towards racism experienced by children and young people and how they intervene in it. 

The survey found that only 24% of the respondents have actually intervened in racism experienced by children or young people. 

“Each child and young person is entitled to a safe environment and equal opportunities. It is the adults’ responsibility to ensure this. Children and young people also expect adults to set an example and speak up against racism. Racism makes everyone feel unsafe,” Saarto continues.  

“Racist experiences can impact children and young people’s wellbeing in many ways and lead to physical, psychological and social problems that undermine their quality of life. The feeling that people don’t appreciate and accept you as you are may impact a young person’s self-esteem and identity. This may lead to the young person isolating themselves from others, feeling lonely or being less motivated at school, which can have long-lasting consequences in their life,” says Director of Helsinki Youth Shelter Kirsti Viinikka. 

People do not intervene in racism because they do not know what to do

A common reason for not speaking up against racism is not knowing what to do. Of the respondents, 31% provided this answer. The most common reason for not intervening is because the situation is over quickly. 

“It’s important to speak up against racism, even if it doesn’t always feel easy or comfortable,” Saarto points out. “Go to the person targeted by racism, lend them your support and ask them if there’s anything you can do to help. At your workplace, you can start a conversation about what kind of people your workplace takes in as trainees or employs for summer jobs. In your recreational groups, you can make sure that everyone knows how to intervene in racism,” Saarto continues. 

The respondents had most commonly intervened in racist talk or jokes (75%), lent their support to someone targeted by racism with gestures or words (46%) or interrupted an ongoing situation (33%). 

People most commonly face racism online or in the media

The most common places where people face racism (63%) are the internet, the media and social media. Of the respondents, 38% have faced racism in a public place and 34% have faced it in everyday interactions. The proportion of respondents who have faced or witnessed structural racism, i.e. racism in contexts such as recruitment, the housing market or services, was 16%. 

Racism is most commonly encountered in the form of racist comments or jokes (69%). Just under half of the respondents have encountered racism in the form of name-calling, bullying and social exclusion. 

“Even if the target of a racist joke is not around to hear it, it’s still important to speak up and say: ‘that’s not funny’. Jokes affect mental images, maintain stereotypes and dehumanise minorities,” Saarto says. 

Saarto thinks that it is a positive thing that the vast majority consider it to be important to intervene in racism experienced by children and young people. “Racism must not be condoned anywhere – not at the coffee table, at school or on the street, and we must always speak up against it. Social exclusion and being the target of hate have a far-reaching impact on a child or young person’s entire life.” 

The survey on intervening in racism experienced by children and young people was commissioned by the Red Cross and conducted by Taloustutkimus. The survey was carried out between 7 and 24 February 2025, and 1,199 people responded to the survey. 

Many professionals, communities and organisations offer support for children and young people who have faced racism. Help is available via the Sekasin chat, Youth Shelters and the Nettiturvis online service, among other places.