Väinö Hakkila - pioneer of the equal rule of law

Authors

• Taina Uusitalo Turun yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37449/ennenjanyt.148392

Keywords:

Väinö Hakkila, SDP, oikeusvaltio, punavangit, avioliittolaki

Abstract

Väinö Hakkila (1882-1958) was one of the most significant actors of the social democratic labor movement after the civil war. In this article, I discuss Väinö Hakkila's remarkable life's work to promote the status of legally and socially disadvantaged Finns. In my view, Hakkila's contribution as a builder of a more equal and fair Finland has not been sufficiently taken into account in previous historiography. I use archival material about Väinö Hakkila's legal practice and parliamentary minutes and law preparation documents as sources. Hakkila paid special attention to the fate of those killed and imprisoned in the civil war, and to the legally weaker position of women than men. I will find out how Hakkila concretely influenced the Red prisoners and to improve the legal status of women. Hakkila promoted the status of red prisoners by establishing a legal office and making reports to the highest judicial supervisors about the poor treatment of prisoners and against the rule of law. I conclude that these positions ended up with Hakkila partly because he was one of the few lawyers in the labor movement who had not been imprisoned as a result of the civil war. As Minister of Justice, Hakkila presented a bill to parliament for a new marriage arc, which significantly improved the legal status of married women. He also opened several positions for women to apply for. He felt that the promotion of the legal status of women in particular was very important personally.