102. The Committee considered the third periodic report of Finland (CCPR/C/58/Add.5) at its 1014th to 1016th meetings, held on 25 and 26 October 1990 (see CCPR/C/SR.1014-1016). 103. The report was introduced by the representative of the State party, who drew attention to the ratification by Finland, since the consideration of its second periodic report, of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Sixth Protocol to that convention concerning the abolition of the aeath penalty, as well as to the establishment of a Committee on International Human Rights Issues. The representative further noted that the existing Self-Government Act relating to the Aaland Islands would be replaced by a new law with a view to increasing the autonomous status of the province; that the Provincial Administrative Courts had in 1989 been detached from the respective Provincial Administrative Boards and now acted as independent courts dealing with questions relating to all rights; and that a new State of Defence Bill, taking account of the requirements of article 4 of the Covenant, had recently been presented to Parliament. A new Aliens Act was also under consideration in Parliament and there were plans to improve the prison system and penal sanctions in general. 104. The Finnish Government had also amended the existing law on military disciplinary procedures so that a conscript now had the right to have any decision involving deprivation of liberty examined by a court. Account had been taken of the Committee’s decision in that regard. The new Passport Act of 1987 was based on the principle that a citizen’s right to travel abroad was a banic right ‘the exercise of which could be restricted only for very serious reasons. Recent legislation relating to the right to a fair trial had made the Finnish reservation to article 14 (3) (d) unnecessary. New legislation had been adopted in the field of personal data protection, providing for the New legislation relating to appointment of a Data Protection mudsman. conscientious objection had also entered into force at the beginning of 1987 for a trial period of five years. With respect to freedom of expression, the new Pre-Trial Investigation Act provided that information on pre-trial investigation must be so distributed that no one was suspected of an offence without adequate reason and that no unnecessary harm was caused. In addition, the 1987 Act on Censorship of Video Programmes and other Pictorial Programmes made the distribution of video cassettes and similar films subject to approval. Lastly, the representative noted that some of the traditional limitations concerning aliens had to some extent been abolished and that equality between spouses had been further strengthened. QzR&&utionalendleaalframework wit- the Covapaat is &QSEB~ 105. With regard to that issue, members of the Committee wished to be provided with illustrations of the activities of the Committee on International Buman Rights Issues since the submission of the third periodic report and additional details concerning the Setpreme Atiinistrative Court case where the Covenant was applied for the first time by a Finnish court. They also wished TV? receive details concerning some of the decisions rendered by the Parlia%bntary Ombudsmanwhere provisions of the Covenant had also been taken into acca;tnt and also asked whether sny suits had been filed pursuant to article 93 (2) of the Constitution Act, in particular proceedings involving charges of violations of the Covenant. -26-