Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Statement171

Universal Periodic Review 10th Session
Intervention by Australia

ESTONIA

 

Australia welcomes the delegation from Estonia and appreciates its engagement in the Universal Periodic Review Process.

Australia commends Estonia for action on human trafficking since introducing the Development Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in 2006.

We welcome the entry into force of the Equal Treatment Act in 2009 which prohibits harassment and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation. We remain concerned by ongoing discrimination based on language and gender and thank you for the additional information you have provided today on these subjects.

We welcome initiatives to reduce crime among youth and decrease the number of prisoners in detention but remain concerned by the treatment of prisoners in Estonia.

Australia recommends Estonia:

  1. Strengthen the Equal Treatment Act to address discrimination based on language and advocate for gender equality, particularly in the labour market;

  2. Develop policies to increase gender equality that persist despite legal guarantees;

  3. Improve prisoner access to essential services including healthcare and rehabilitation.