Country detail - yourHRC.org

Estonia

Regional group:

Eastern European Group (EEG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2018)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

Other HRC positions:	–
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights; Moratorium on the use of the death penalty; United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2013, Estonia has voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and country-specific resolutions under item 2. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Estonia has always voted in favour – except for three resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan. For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Estonia has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has voted in favour of resolutions on: sexual orientation; the question of the death penalty; the regulation of firearms; arms transfers; peaceful protests; and human rights, democracy and rule of law. It has voted against resolutions on: the right to peace (Cuba), and the effects of terrorism (Egypt). It abstained on the Russian Federation’s 2014 resolution on ‘integrity of the judicial system,’ and Pakistan’s 2014 and 2015 resolutions on drones. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Estonia has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Resolutions that it has voted against are: Cuban resolutions on the effects of foreign debt, Cuban resolutions on international solidarity, and NAM resolutions on unilateral coercive measures. It has consistently voted in favour of NAM resolutions on the right to development. Estonia has abstained on African Group resolutions on the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

200

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

417

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

114

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
None

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CAT
6 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2011, 2016, 2021)

Mid-term report

1st and 2nd cycles

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 7 / 192

2^nd cycle: 112 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 18

Estonia tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2013-2015, on 13^th June 2012.

Internationally, Estonia pledged to: use its membership to ensure that the Council responds, in a timely and responsible manner, to all urgent human rights situations; to continue to support the functioning of OHCHR, including financially; enhance cooperation with Special Procedures; work in close cooperation with civil society; continue to submit regular periodic reports to the Treaty Bodies, and distribute conclusions and recommendations to relevant authorities, civil society and the general public; begin preparations for the ratification of CRPD, CPED and the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict; consider ratification of the OP-CEDAW and the Convention against discrimination in education; and continue to provide financial support to UN activities to support the rights of indigenous peoples.

Domestically, Estonia committed to: work to bring national law with implications for the rights of children more fully into line with international standards; find additional financial resources for the office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality and Equal Treatment; and strengthen gender equality in the administration of justice.

An analysis of steps taken by Estonia in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that it did indeed ratify CRPD (2012) and an Optional Protocol to the CRC (2014). However it has not ratified CPED, OP CEDAW or the Convention against discrimination in education. It has maintained an annual financial contribution to OHCHR. Estonia continues to participate in Council discussions (e.g. it has contributed to 57% of all panel discussions.) Regarding Special Procedures, Estonia has accepted all visit requests. It has also tabled a mid-term report under the UPR.

Estonia

Eastern European Group (EEG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 7 / 192

2nd cycle: 112 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 18

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 7 / 192

2^nd cycle: 112 / 192