A/HRC/32/7
47.
The delegation stated that Estonia had been facing challenges related to an influx of
migrants. In that context, the Government continued its efforts to tackle racism and
xenophobia in society. Some public figures, including the President and the Chancellor of
Justice, had taken a strong stance in the public discussion against hate speech and other
forms of expression of racism and xenophobia. Due to public discussions, as well as the
judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Delfi v. Estonia, the acknowledgement
by the media of its role and responsibilities in addressing the issue had been strengthened.
48.
The Minister of Justice had held discussions and consultations with law enforcement
authorities to address hate-motivated offences effectively. The Government worked
constantly to improve the education system in order to tackle the manifestations of racism
and xenophobia and build a human rights culture in the society.
49.
Furthermore, the fight against racism and xenophobia and the integration of
migrants remained at the centre of several policies, programmes and action plans. A special
programme on migrants envisaged the provision of support to migrants to settle in the
country. The new strategy on integration and social cohesion, entitled “Integrating Estonia
2020”, addressed integration as a complex process, with an emphasis on preservation of
ethnic identity and the cultures of minority groups and guarantees for their equal
opportunity to participate in public life.
50.
Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination on various grounds was prohibited
and punishable by law. The Minister of Justice had been drafting legal amendments to
further improve the legislation on hate and racist crimes, including by incorporating racist
and hate motives as aggravating circumstances. The 2015 amendments to the Criminal
Code already envisaged punishment for organizations encouraging racial discrimination or
violence.
51.
In response to questions on prison conditions, the delegation reported that the living
conditions of detainees had gradually improved owing to newly built or renovated detention
facilities. The minimum requirement for living space was met at the new prisons of Viru
and Tartu. The building of new premises of the Tallinn prison and detention centre had
commenced. None of the old type of prison would remain by 2019, and thus all prisons
would have been modernized to meet living condition standards.
52.
Legal amendments prohibited overcrowding in prisons and stipulated the maximum
number of prisoners each prison was permitted to accommodate. Several offences had been
decriminalized and conditions for release on parole and probation had been made more
flexible in 2015. Thus, the prison population was slowly decreasing due to targeted
measures taken by the Government. Furthermore, the Government was carrying out a
reform of the juvenile justice system to reduce the number of minors in the criminal justice
system, which was already small, and ensure juveniles access to education.
53.
The 2012 amendments to the Criminal Code had criminalized all elements of the
specific crime of human trafficking in accordance with international law. In 2013, the Act
on Victims Support had been supplemented with new provisions concerning victims of
human trafficking and child victims of sexual abuse. The 2015 amendments to the Criminal
Code stipulated more severe punishment for cases of domestic violence than those
involving other form of violence. In 2015, Estonia had ratified the Council of Europe
Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. In 2014, it had signed the
Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and
Domestic Violence.
54.
Domestic violence, violence against women and trafficking in human beings
remained a priority issue of the Government. A strategy for preventing violence for the
period 2015-2020 put an emphasis on raising public awareness about those issues. Several
training sessions and workshops for various sectors of society and professional groups,
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