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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 22:58
Estonia stands still in improvement of human rights
"While two years ago we saw faster improvement, fortunately we have no
great setbacks. But unfortunately we also can't point out any major
improvements," head of the Human Rights Center Kari Kasper said in a press release.
"But it can be seen from the report drawn up by experts that people in
several fields are worried about the tough rhetoric of some interest groups
that does not respect human rights, which thankfully has not been realized as
actions of state institutions. Whether it is attacking the judicial power, the
freedom of the press, cultural establishments or human rights
organizations," Kasper said.
Improvements in the past two years include the ratification of the Istanbul
Convention, the aim of which is to stand against violence against women, and
the criminalization of stalking. "It is good that democratic institutions
are functioning -- local government elections were successful, the freedom of
speech and assembly are not restricted too much, and the judicial power is
independent," Kasper said.
More complicated is the situation of such human rights in connection of
which the state has to take action or make difficult decisions to change the
current practice, Kasper said. "In these areas the main obstacles to
promoting human rights are often attitudes, prejudices and ignorance," he
added.
In the report for 2016 and 2017 which was published on Tuesday, experts
highlight several shortcomings that public institutions should address first.
For instance, guaranteeing the dignity of psychiatric patients, data protection
issues in public institutions as well as private enterprises, adopting the
implementing provisions of the Registered Partnership Act and changing open
governance from declarative to substantive.
The published report has 14 chapters, written by independent experts from
different organizations. Topics covered by the report include the state of
national minorities, refugees, asylum seekers and people with special needs as
well as issues regarding the freedom of speech and free elections.
Estonian Human Rights Center is a non-govermental organization, the mission
of which is to create together an Estonia that respects the human rights of all
people. This year is the first time the report was only funded by donors, who
numbered more than 100.
The full-length report in Estonian can be found on the web page of the
Human Rights Center.