The protection of human rights is based on international and domestic law, as well as people’s awareness of their rights and means of their protection.
International documents
Estonia is a party to international human rights treaties and has committed itself to guaranteeing the rights and freedoms stemming form those treaties to everyone on its territory. The treaties have established monitoring mechanisms to verify compliance with this obligation. Individuals can lodge complaints against Estonia with some of those mechanisms.
The most important international documents related to human rights are:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948);
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 November 1966);
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 November 1966);
- European Convention on Human Rights (Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by the Council of Europe on 4 October 1950);
- European Social Charter (adopted by the Council of Europe on 18 October 1961).
Protection of human rights in the UN
The UN has different ways to protect human rights, both based on the Charter and the treaties. In 2006, the UN General Assembly established the UN Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body tasked with protecting and promoting human rights worldwide and addressing human rights violations.
The UN Human Rights Council is made up of 47 member states elected by secret ballot at the UN General Assembly in New York. Estonia was a member of the Human Rights Council in 2013–2015. As part of its candidacy, Estonia presented its international pledges and priorities in the field of human rights. Estonia stands for re-election to the Council of Human Rights for 2026–2028.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the UN’s human rights coordinator for information.
Estonia has accepted the possibility of submitting individuaal complaints to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Human Rights Committee (regarding violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).
Protection of human rights in Europe
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the European Convention on Human Rights) is the European regional human rights treaty. The 46 member states of the Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe, not to be confused with the European Union and its Council), including Estonia, are parties to this convention.
Any person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals claiming to be the victim of a violation of the rights set forth in the European Convention on Human Rights may submit an application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Within the European Union, human rights are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Charter applies to the activities of the EU institutions and to EU Member States when they implement EU legislation. The Charter applies alongside national and international systems for the protection of fundamental freedoms, such as the European Convention on Human Rights.
Protection of human rights in Estonia
In addition to courts, the Chancellor of Justice or the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner can also be addressed for the protection of one’s rights.
There are several organisations in Estonia that are involved in the protection and communication of human rights in different areas. Further information is available at the Estonian Institute of Human Rights.