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}}</ref><ref name="20083010EE">[http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/index.php?id=294696&tpl=1007 Government to develop activities to decrease the number of non-citizens]</ref> In November 2005 a survey was conducted among residents with undetermined citizenship. The results show that 61% of those residents wanted Estonian citizenship, 13% Russian citizenship and 6% citizenship of another country. 17% of the respondents were not interested in acquiring any citizenship at all. It was found that the older the respondent, the more likely he or she doesn't want to have any citizenship. The survey also showed that respondents who were born in Estonia were more likely to wish to get Estonian citizenship (73%), than those not born in Estonia (less than 50%).<ref name="citiz"/>
}}</ref><ref name="20083010EE">[http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/index.php?id=294696&tpl=1007 Government to develop activities to decrease the number of non-citizens]</ref> In November 2005 a survey was conducted among residents with undetermined citizenship. The results show that 61% of those residents wanted Estonian citizenship, 13% Russian citizenship and 6% citizenship of another country. 17% of the respondents were not interested in acquiring any citizenship at all. It was found that the older the respondent, the more likely he or she doesn't want to have any citizenship. The survey also showed that respondents who were born in Estonia were more likely to wish to get Estonian citizenship (73%), than those not born in Estonia (less than 50%).<ref name="citiz"/>


===Treatment of Roma===
====Job discrimination ====
⚫
The [[Council of Europe]] has claimed that "the [[Romani people|Roma community]] in Estonia is still disproportionately affected by unemployment and discrimination in the field of education."<ref>"Council of Europe: Reports on racism in Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Spain". Press Release. Council of Europe Press Division. 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2009. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=968931&Site=COE</ref> The European Commission had previously conducted close monitoring of Estonia in 2000 and concluded that there is no evidence that these minorities are subject to discrimination.<ref name="Union p45">Agenda 2000. For a stronger and wider Union (Vol. I). The Challenge of Enlargement (Part. II), COM (97) 2000 final, p45</ref>

⚫
===Bronze Night incident===
⚫
{{main|Bronze Night#Human rights issues concerning arrests and use of force by the police}}
⚫
A number of organisations have commented on the events surrounding the [[Bronze Night]] incident. There was a concern expressed about possible human right violations perpetrated by both demonstrators and police. During the April 2007 riots in Tallinn, some police allegedly used excessive force against demonstrators. Eight criminal cases opened against officers, where charges were dropped in six, and two were pending at year’s end.<ref name="freedomhouse1"/> The [[International Federation of Human Rights]] (FIDH)–a coalition of 155 human rights groups– urged the Estonian authorities to investigate all acts of human rights violations during the night. The organisation called upon the Estonian authorities to "put an end to any practice of discrimination against the Russian-speaking minority, which constitutes about 30% of the Estonian population, and to conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination." FIDH and LHRC also condemned acts of vandalism perpetrated by demonstrators in Tallinn, as well as the blockade of the Estonian embassy in Moscow.<ref name="fidh">{{cite web|url=http://www.fidh.org/Estonia-must-investigate-human|title=Estonia must investigate human rights violations committed during riots in Tallinn|date=2007-05-09|publisher=International Federation for Human Rights|accessdate=2009-06-02}} </ref>

===Job discrimination ===
72% of 500 questioned ethnic Russians believed that different ethnic background is hindering to workplace advancement.<ref name="fra"/> Russian government officials and parliamentarians echo these charges in a variety of forums. Such claims have become more frequent during times of political disagreements between Russia and these countries and waned when the disagreements have been resolved.<ref>[http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/12/946.html Russia and the Baltic States: Not a Case of "Flawed" History]</ref><ref>[[Postimees]] 25 July 2007: [http://www.postimees.ee/250707/esileht/siseuudised/273947.php Naši suvelaagrit «ehib» Hitleri vuntsidega Paeti kujutav plakat]</ref><ref name='lawass'>"Law Assembly": {{cite web |url=http://www.dol.ru/users/lawass/hr2_e.htm |title=The policy of discrimination of the national minorities in Latvia and Estonia |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927235236/http://www.dol.ru/users/lawass/hr2_e.htm |archivedate=2007-09-27}}</ref><ref>[[Postimees]] July 30, 2007: [http://www.postimees.ee/010807/esileht/valisuudised/274699.php Venemaa süüdistas Eestit taas natsismi toetamises]</ref><ref>[http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/12/946.html Russia and the Baltic States: Not a Case of "Flawed" History] by [[Mikhail Demurin]], a long-time [[diplomat]] of [[USSR]] and later [[Russian Federation]], printed in [[Russia in Global Affairs]]</ref>
72% of 500 questioned ethnic Russians believed that different ethnic background is hindering to workplace advancement.<ref name="fra"/> Russian government officials and parliamentarians echo these charges in a variety of forums. Such claims have become more frequent during times of political disagreements between Russia and these countries and waned when the disagreements have been resolved.<ref>[http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/12/946.html Russia and the Baltic States: Not a Case of "Flawed" History]</ref><ref>[[Postimees]] 25 July 2007: [http://www.postimees.ee/250707/esileht/siseuudised/273947.php Naši suvelaagrit «ehib» Hitleri vuntsidega Paeti kujutav plakat]</ref><ref name='lawass'>"Law Assembly": {{cite web |url=http://www.dol.ru/users/lawass/hr2_e.htm |title=The policy of discrimination of the national minorities in Latvia and Estonia |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927235236/http://www.dol.ru/users/lawass/hr2_e.htm |archivedate=2007-09-27}}</ref><ref>[[Postimees]] July 30, 2007: [http://www.postimees.ee/010807/esileht/valisuudised/274699.php Venemaa süüdistas Eestit taas natsismi toetamises]</ref><ref>[http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/numbers/12/946.html Russia and the Baltic States: Not a Case of "Flawed" History] by [[Mikhail Demurin]], a long-time [[diplomat]] of [[USSR]] and later [[Russian Federation]], printed in [[Russia in Global Affairs]]</ref>


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Charles Kroncke and Kenneth Smith in a 1999 article published in the journal ''Economics of Transition'' argue that while there was no ethnicity based discrimination in 1989, the situation in 1994 was completely different. According to the article, there is substantial evidence of discrimination against ethnic Russians in the 1994 Estonian labour market. The evidence examined in the article also suggested that Estonian language ability does not significantly affect wages. Kroncke and Smith also point out the surprising fact, that Estonian-born ethnic Russians appear to fare worse than immigrant ethnic Russians.<ref name="kroncke">{{cite journal|last=Kroncke|first=Charles|coauthors=Smith, Kenneth|year=1999|journal=Economics of Transition|publisher=The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|location=USA|volume=7|issue=1|pages=179–199|accessdate=2009-06-16|doi=10.1111/1468-0351.00009|title=The wage effects of ethnicity in Estonia}}</ref> A later study by Kristian Leping and Ott Toomet published in 2008 in the ''Journal of Comparative Economics'' reports that a lack of fluency in the Estonian language and segregated social networks and school system, rather than ethnicity, as the prime reason for the apparent wage gap between Estonian and non-Estonian speakers.<ref name="leping">{{cite journal|last=Leping|first=Kristian|coauthors=Toomet, Ott|year=2008|journal=Journal of Comparative Economics|publisher=Elsevier|location=USA|volume=36|pages=599–619|accessdate=2009-06-16|doi=10.1016/j.jce.2008.08.002|title=Emerging ethnic wage gap: Estonia during political and economic transition}}</ref>
Charles Kroncke and Kenneth Smith in a 1999 article published in the journal ''Economics of Transition'' argue that while there was no ethnicity based discrimination in 1989, the situation in 1994 was completely different. According to the article, there is substantial evidence of discrimination against ethnic Russians in the 1994 Estonian labour market. The evidence examined in the article also suggested that Estonian language ability does not significantly affect wages. Kroncke and Smith also point out the surprising fact, that Estonian-born ethnic Russians appear to fare worse than immigrant ethnic Russians.<ref name="kroncke">{{cite journal|last=Kroncke|first=Charles|coauthors=Smith, Kenneth|year=1999|journal=Economics of Transition|publisher=The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|location=USA|volume=7|issue=1|pages=179–199|accessdate=2009-06-16|doi=10.1111/1468-0351.00009|title=The wage effects of ethnicity in Estonia}}</ref> A later study by Kristian Leping and Ott Toomet published in 2008 in the ''Journal of Comparative Economics'' reports that a lack of fluency in the Estonian language and segregated social networks and school system, rather than ethnicity, as the prime reason for the apparent wage gap between Estonian and non-Estonian speakers.<ref name="leping">{{cite journal|last=Leping|first=Kristian|coauthors=Toomet, Ott|year=2008|journal=Journal of Comparative Economics|publisher=Elsevier|location=USA|volume=36|pages=599–619|accessdate=2009-06-16|doi=10.1016/j.jce.2008.08.002|title=Emerging ethnic wage gap: Estonia during political and economic transition}}</ref>


===Education===
====Education====
Since restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia has been funding Russian-language elementary, comprehensive and high schools alongside Estonian-language schools, with future reform planned since late 1990s but repeatedly delayed. The reform plan was commenced in 2007.
Since restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia has been funding Russian-language elementary, comprehensive and high schools alongside Estonian-language schools, with future reform planned since late 1990s but repeatedly delayed. The reform plan was commenced in 2007.


Line 211: Line 204:


Amnesty International has recommended that the authorities provide more support for teachers and adequate resources for students who will be required to replace Russian with Estonian as their language of teaching and instruction; replacing Russian with Estonian as their learning language to successfully manage this transition.<ref name="amnesty2006" />
Amnesty International has recommended that the authorities provide more support for teachers and adequate resources for students who will be required to replace Russian with Estonian as their language of teaching and instruction; replacing Russian with Estonian as their learning language to successfully manage this transition.<ref name="amnesty2006" />

⚫
====Bronze Night incident====
⚫
{{main|Bronze Night#Human rights issues concerning arrests and use of force by the police}}
⚫
A number of organisations have commented on the events surrounding the [[Bronze Night]] incident. There was a concern expressed about possible human right violations perpetrated by both demonstrators and police. During the April 2007 riots in Tallinn, some police allegedly used excessive force against demonstrators. Eight criminal cases opened against officers, where charges were dropped in six, and two were pending at year’s end.<ref name="freedomhouse1"/> The [[International Federation of Human Rights]] (FIDH)–a coalition of 155 human rights groups– urged the Estonian authorities to investigate all acts of human rights violations during the night. The organisation called upon the Estonian authorities to "put an end to any practice of discrimination against the Russian-speaking minority, which constitutes about 30% of the Estonian population, and to conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination." FIDH and LHRC also condemned acts of vandalism perpetrated by demonstrators in Tallinn, as well as the blockade of the Estonian embassy in Moscow.<ref name="fidh">{{cite web|url=http://www.fidh.org/Estonia-must-investigate-human|title=Estonia must investigate human rights violations committed during riots in Tallinn|date=2007-05-09|publisher=International Federation for Human Rights|accessdate=2009-06-02}} </ref>

===Treatment of Roma===
⚫
The [[Council of Europe]] has claimed that "the [[Romani people|Roma community]] in Estonia is still disproportionately affected by unemployment and discrimination in the field of education."<ref>"Council of Europe: Reports on racism in Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Spain". Press Release. Council of Europe Press Division. 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2009. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=968931&Site=COE</ref> The European Commission had previously conducted close monitoring of Estonia in 2000 and concluded that there is no evidence that these minorities are subject to discrimination.<ref name="Union p45">Agenda 2000. For a stronger and wider Union (Vol. I). The Challenge of Enlargement (Part. II), COM (97) 2000 final, p45</ref>


===Exploitation of children===
===Exploitation of children===

Revision as of 02:31, 13 December 2011

Politics of Estonia
State
Presidency
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Human rights in Estonia are generally respected by the government, according to US Department of State.[1] Estonia is ranked above-average in democracy,[2] press freedom,[3] privacy[4] and human development.[5] Individuals are guaranteed basic rights under the constitution, legislative acts, and treaties relating to human rights ratified by the Estonian government.[1][6][7]

Several international and human rights organisations, such as Human Rights Watch in 1993,[6] the UN Human Rights Council[8] and the OSCE,[9] have found no evidence or pattern of systematic abuse of human rights or discrimination on ethnic grounds, while others, such as Amnesty International in 2009, have raised concerns regarding Estonia's significant Russophone minority[10].

Current concerns include police use of force, the conditions in pre-trial detention and the length of those detentions.[1]

History

Estonians' individual human rights and collective rights to exist as an ethnic entity, have been routinely violated for eight centuries since the Northern Crusades and Baltic German rule, followed by two centuries of Russian imperial suzerainty and ending with half a century of Soviet occupation. Estonia's first constitution of 1920 included safeguards for civil and political rights that were the standard of the day.[11] The 1925 Law on Cultural Autonomy was an innovative piece of legislation that provided for the protection of the collective rights for citizens of non-Estonian ethnicities.[11]

Estonia in the international human rights system

As of end of 2010, European Court of Human Rights has delivered 23 judgments in cases brought against Estonia (beginning from 2001); in 19 cases, it found at least one violation of the European Convention on Human Rights or its protocols.[12] In 2001, Estonia has extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures of UN Human Rights Council.[13]

Participation in basic human rights treaties

UN core treaties[14] Participation of Estonia CoE core treaties[15] Participation of Estonia
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Accession in 1991 European Convention on Human Rights Ratified in 1996
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Accession in 1991 Protocol 1 (ECHR) Ratified in 1996
First Optional Protocol (ICCPR) Accession in 1991 Protocol 4 (ECHR) Ratified in 1996
Second Optional Protocol (ICCPR) Accession in 2004 Protocol 6 (ECHR) Ratified in 1998
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Accession in 1991 Protocol 7 (ECHR) Ratified in 1996
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Accession in 1991 Protocol 12 (ECHR) Signed in 2000
Optional Protocol (CEDAW) Not signed Protocol 13 (ECHR) Ratified in 2004
United Nations Convention Against Torture Accession in 1991 European Social Charter Not signed
Optional Protocol (CAT) Ratified in 2006 Additional Protocol of 1988 (ESC) Not signed
Convention on the Rights of the Child Accession in 1991 Additional Protocol of 1995 (ESC) Not signed
Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (CRC) Signed in 2003 Revised European Social Charter Ratified in 2000
Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC-OP-SC) Ratified in 2004 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Ratified in 1996
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families Not signed European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Not signed
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Signed in 2007 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Ratified in 1997
Optional Protocol (CRPD) Not signed Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings Not signed

Latest documents in reporting procedures

Experts' body State report Experts' body's document
Human Rights Committee 2008[16] 2010[17]
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 2008 [18] 2011[19]
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2009[20] 2010[21]
Committee Against Torture 2005[22] 2007[23].
Committee on the Rights of the Child 2001[24]. 2003[25]
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women 2005[26] 2007[27]
European Committee on Social Rights 2010[28] 2011[29] 2010[30]; pending
Committee for the Prevention of Torture not foreseen 2007[31]
FCNM Advisory Committee 2004[32], 2010[33] 2005[34]; 2011 (restricted, as at November 2011).
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance not foreseen 2010[35]

Overviews by human rights organisations

Amnesty International

According to Amnesty International, linguistic minorities face discrimination in a number of areas, especially in employment and education. Migrants were exposed to harassment by state officials and attacks by extremist groups. Criminal investigations into allegations of excessive use of force by police were dismissed. Also Estonian security police, Kaitsepolitsei, made allegations against the Legal Information Centre for Human Rights (LICHR), which it claims is widely seen as an attempt to misrepresent the organization and to undermine its work.[10]

Human Rights Watch

According to Human Rights Watch report, 1993, the organisation did not find systematic, serious abuses of human rights in the area of citizenship. Non-citizens in Estonia were guaranteed basic rights under the Constitution of Estonia. However there were some problems concerning the successful integration of some who were permanent residents at the time Estonia gained independence.[6]

Freedom House

According to Freedom House, Estonia has wide political rights and civil liberties. Political parties are allowed to organize freely and elections have been free and fair. Public access to government information are respected and the country has a freedom of the press, although a 2007 report discussed Estonia's Kaitsepolitsei security organs as the nation's political police.[36] Also religious freedom is respected in law and in practice. Corruption is regarded as a relatively minor problem in Estonia. The judiciary is independent and generally free from government interference.[37]

United States Department of State

According to Human Right Report of United States Department of State, Estonia generally respects the human rights of citizens and the large ethnic Russian noncitizen community. However there were problems with police use of force, conditions in detention and lengthy of pre-trial detention. Also there were problems in domestic violence, inequality of women's salaries, child abuse, and trafficking of women and children.[1]

United Nations Human Rights Council

The 1993 United Nations Human Rights Council 48th Session's Mission on the situation of human rights in Estonia and Latvia found no evidence of discrimination along ethnic or religious grounds.[citation needed] Also, the 2008 report of Special Rapporteur on racism to United Nations Human Rights Council noted the existence of political will by the Estonian State authorities to fight the expressions of racism and discrimination in Estonia.[8] According to the report, the representatives of the Russian speaking communities in Estonia saw the most important form of discrimination in Estonia is not ethnic, but rather language-based (Para. 56). The rapporteur expressed several recommendations including strengthening the Chancellor of Justice, facilitating granting citizenship to persons of undefined nationality and making language policy subject of a debate to elaborate strategies better reflecting the multilingual character of society (paras. 89-92).[8]

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) examines regular reports of the member States on how the rights are being implemented under Article 9 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. As usual the Committee in its 2010 concluding observations noted some positive aspects, as well as raised concerns and made recommendations with regard to Estonia's compliance with the convention. [38]

Other institutions

According to Cliohres, the European Network of Excellence organized by a group of 45 universities publication the alleged violations of human rights of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia has served as a pretext of trying to lock the region within the sphere of influence of Russia. Moscow's attempts to take political advantage over the issue of the Russophone minority in Estonia have been successful as Kremlin has used every international forum where the claims of the violations of human rights in Estonia have been presented.[39]

The United Nations Development Programme's forum[40] Development and Transition has discussed the situation of Estonia and Latvia in 2005. James Hughes wrote an article, where he accused Latvia and Estonia to employ a "sophisticated and extensive policy regime of discrimination" against their respective Russophone populations.[41] Nils Muiznieks responded, "Hughes provides simple conclusions about the complex realities of minority policies and inter-ethnic relations in Estonia and Latvia".[42]

Both the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Estonia and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities declared in 1993 that they could not find a pattern of human rights violations or abuses in Estonia.[9]

Issues

Alleged discrimination against ethnic Russians

According to a survey of 500 ethnic Russians conducted by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, 59% of those questioned perceived that ethnic discrimination was very or fairly widespread in the country. 27% believed they had experienced discrimination based on their ethnic origin in the past 5 years, including 17% during the past 12 months (compared to 4–5% in Lithuania and Latvia.) Alleged discrimination at workplace is claimed to be widespread, with 72% of ethnic Russians believing that a different ethnic background would be hindering to advancement. 39% believed they had experienced discrimination during the past 5 years when looking for work, including 16% during the past 12 months—the highest rate in all the countries surveyed. 10% confirmed that they avoid certain places, such as shops or cafés because they believed they would receive bad treatment due to their ethnic background.[43]

Amnesty International has criticized the alleged discrimination and called for the Estonian government to take action.[10]

The European Centre for Minority Issues has examined Estonia's treatment of its Russophone minority. In its conclusion, the centre stated that all international organisations agree that no forms of systematic discrimination towards the Russian-speaking population can be observed and praises the efforts made thus far in amendments to laws on education, language and the status of non-citizens, there nevertheless remains the issue of the large number of such non-citizens.[44] As of September 2, 2009, 102,466, or 7.5% of Estonia's population remain non-citizens, dropping from 32% in 1992 and 12% in 2003.[45][46] In November 2005 a survey was conducted among residents with undetermined citizenship. The results show that 61% of those residents wanted Estonian citizenship, 13% Russian citizenship and 6% citizenship of another country. 17% of the respondents were not interested in acquiring any citizenship at all. It was found that the older the respondent, the more likely he or she doesn't want to have any citizenship. The survey also showed that respondents who were born in Estonia were more likely to wish to get Estonian citizenship (73%), than those not born in Estonia (less than 50%).[45]

Job discrimination

72% of 500 questioned ethnic Russians believed that different ethnic background is hindering to workplace advancement.[43] Russian government officials and parliamentarians echo these charges in a variety of forums. Such claims have become more frequent during times of political disagreements between Russia and these countries and waned when the disagreements have been resolved.[47][48][49][50][51]

A 2005 study by European Network Against Racism found that 17.1% of ethnic non-Estonians claimed that they had experienced limitations to their rights or degrading treatment in the workplace durin the last 3 years because of their ethnic origin.[52]

Amnesty had noted in a 2006 report that members of the Russian-speaking minority in Estonia enjoy very limited linguistic and minority rights, and often find themselves de facto excluded from the labour market and educational system.[53] The discriminating policies of Estonia have led to "disproportionately high levels of unemployment among the Russian-speaking linguistic minority. This in turn has further contributed to social exclusion and vulnerability to other human rights abuses. In consequence, many from this group are effectively impeded from the full enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights (ESC rights)."[53] However, a December 2006 editorial originally published in The Economist[54] and reprinted in the European Voice[55] and else where [56] regards the Amnesty International report as "a bad piece of work" which is both ahistorical and unbalanced, and criticized the organization's use of limited resources as bizarre when there are real human rights abuses in Belarus and Russia.

Charles Kroncke and Kenneth Smith in a 1999 article published in the journal Economics of Transition argue that while there was no ethnicity based discrimination in 1989, the situation in 1994 was completely different. According to the article, there is substantial evidence of discrimination against ethnic Russians in the 1994 Estonian labour market. The evidence examined in the article also suggested that Estonian language ability does not significantly affect wages. Kroncke and Smith also point out the surprising fact, that Estonian-born ethnic Russians appear to fare worse than immigrant ethnic Russians.[57] A later study by Kristian Leping and Ott Toomet published in 2008 in the Journal of Comparative Economics reports that a lack of fluency in the Estonian language and segregated social networks and school system, rather than ethnicity, as the prime reason for the apparent wage gap between Estonian and non-Estonian speakers.[58]

Education

Since restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia has been funding Russian-language elementary, comprehensive and high schools alongside Estonian-language schools, with future reform planned since late 1990s but repeatedly delayed. The reform plan was commenced in 2007.

According to schedule, 60% of all subjects of grades 10, 11 and 12 are to be taught in Estonian language by 2011 in all state-funded schools. All state-funded schools already teach Estonian literature in Estonian by the 2007/2008 academic year. The government has been reserved authority to grant waivers and extensions to some state-funded schools on a case-by-case basis.[59]

In the 2007/2008 academic year, 49 Russian schools (79%) were teaching Music in Estonian, 30 Russian schools (48%) were teaching Social Studies in Estonian and 17 Russian schools (27%) taught both transition subjects in Estonian.[60]

Amnesty International has recommended that the authorities provide more support for teachers and adequate resources for students who will be required to replace Russian with Estonian as their language of teaching and instruction; replacing Russian with Estonian as their learning language to successfully manage this transition.[53]

Bronze Night incident

Main article: Bronze Night § Human rights issues concerning arrests and use of force by the police

A number of organisations have commented on the events surrounding the Bronze Night incident. There was a concern expressed about possible human right violations perpetrated by both demonstrators and police. During the April 2007 riots in Tallinn, some police allegedly used excessive force against demonstrators. Eight criminal cases opened against officers, where charges were dropped in six, and two were pending at year’s end.[37] The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)–a coalition of 155 human rights groups– urged the Estonian authorities to investigate all acts of human rights violations during the night. The organisation called upon the Estonian authorities to "put an end to any practice of discrimination against the Russian-speaking minority, which constitutes about 30% of the Estonian population, and to conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination." FIDH and LHRC also condemned acts of vandalism perpetrated by demonstrators in Tallinn, as well as the blockade of the Estonian embassy in Moscow.[61]

Treatment of Roma

The Council of Europe has claimed that "the Roma community in Estonia is still disproportionately affected by unemployment and discrimination in the field of education."[62] The European Commission had previously conducted close monitoring of Estonia in 2000 and concluded that there is no evidence that these minorities are subject to discrimination.[63]

Exploitation of children

Independent Special Rapporteur Najat M'jid Maala of the United Nations has said that Estonia has taken clear steps to protect children from exploitaiton, although the human rights expert has commented that "young people remain at risk and continued vigilance from authorities is needed."[64]

Sexual orientation

Main article: LGBT rights in Estonia

Homosexual sex, which was illegal in the Soviet Union, was legalised in Estonia in 1992. The age of consent is 14 years and was equalized for both homosexual and heterosexual sex in 2001.[65] Homosexuals are not banned from military service and there are no laws discriminating homosexuals.

Estonia transposed an EU directive into its own laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment from May 1, 2004. A survey carried out in September 2002 found that there was a high level of discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual people in Estonia.[66]

External views

Journalists

According to veteran German author, journalist and Russia-correspondent Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, there is deep disapproval of everything Russian in Estonia. She contends that the alleged level of discrimination regarding ethnic Russians in Estonia would have posed a barrier to acceptance into the EU; however, Western media gave the matter very little attention.[67] However the European Commission conducted close monitoring of these countries compliance with the Acquis communautaire in regard to minority rights prior to accession to the EU, the Commission claimed that there is no evidence that these minorities are subject to discrimination.[63]

In an interview with the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, Hans Glaubitz, a former ambassador of the Netherlands to Estonia, mentioned that he resigned due to the homophobia and racism once they could not "cope with gay hatred and racism on the Estonian streets."[68]

International rankings

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "2008 Human Rights Report: Estonia". United States Department of State. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. ^ a b "The Economist Intelligence Unit's Index of Democracy 2008" (PDF). Economist. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  3. ^ a b "Press Freedom Index 2008". Reporters Without Borders. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  4. ^ a b "The 2007 International Privacy Ranking". Privacy International. 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  5. ^ "Statistics of the Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  6. ^ a b c "Integrating Estonia's Non-Citizen Minority". Human rights watch. 1993. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  7. ^ a b "Country Report 2008 Edition". Freedom House. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  8. ^ a b c "Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/7/19/Add.2 17 March 2008 Original: ENGLISH, HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventh session Agenda item 9: RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED FORMS OF INTOLERANCE, FOLLOW-UP TO AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DURBAN DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION - Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène, Addendum, MISSION TO ESTONIA" (PDF). Documents on Estonia. United Nations Human Rights Council. 20/02/2008. Retrieved 2009-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)[dead link]
  9. ^ a b Max van der Stoel (1993-04-23). "CSCE Communication No. 124" (PDF). OSCE (named CSCE before 1995). pp. p. 3. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  10. ^ a b c "Amnesty International Report 2009". Amnesty International. 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-05. [dead link]
  11. ^ a b Toivo Miljan, Historical dictionary of Estonia, Scarecrow Press, 2004, p253
  12. ^ Estonia: Press country profile European Court of Human Rights Press Unit, 2011
  13. ^ Countries having extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures
  14. ^ UN human rights treaties
  15. ^ CoE human rights treaties
  16. ^ Estonia's Third report on ICCPR
  17. ^ HRC Concluding observations
  18. ^ Estonia's third report on ICESCR
  19. ^ CESCR concluding observations on the second report by Estonia E/C.12/EST/CO/2
  20. ^ 8th and 9th report on ICERD
  21. ^ CERD Concluding observations
  22. ^ Fourth report on CAT
  23. ^ CAT conclusions and recommendations
  24. ^ Initial report on CRC
  25. ^ CRC concluding observations
  26. ^ 4th report on CEDAW
  27. ^ CEDAW concluding Comments
  28. ^ Estonia's report on Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 28, 29 ESC(R), 2010
  29. ^ Estonia's report on Articles 7, 8, 16, 17, 19, 27 ESC(R), 2011
  30. ^ ECSR conclusion on Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 28, 29 ESC(R)
  31. ^ CPT report on the 2007 visit
  32. ^ Second report on FCNM
  33. ^ Third report on FCNM
  34. ^ Opinion of the FCNM Advisory Committee on Second Report
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  47. ^ Russia and the Baltic States: Not a Case of "Flawed" History
  48. ^ Postimees 25 July 2007: Naši suvelaagrit «ehib» Hitleri vuntsidega Paeti kujutav plakat
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  50. ^ Postimees July 30, 2007: Venemaa süüdistas Eestit taas natsismi toetamises
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  59. ^ Андрей Красноглазов: "Каток не остановить"
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  65. ^ Estonia repeals Discriminatory Age of Consent for Homosexual Contacts
  66. ^ Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
  67. ^ Krone-Schmalz, Gabriele (2008). "Zweierlei Maß". Was passiert in Russland? (in German) (4 ed.). München: F.A. Herbig. pp. 45–48. ISBN 9783776625257.
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Further reading

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