The proposal is part of a wider bill which aims to improve the status of detained foreigners and safeguard their legal security as well as to improve the security of the detention centres.
The proposal prohibits detention of a child under the age of 15 who has no guardian.
According to the proposal, the child cannot be detained, even if the right to stay in the country has been denied.
If the bill is passed, the law is expected to come in force next year.
According to Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen, the legal rights of underage children after the amendment will be better than in the average European countries and even better than in Sweden.
