Implementation of the Council of Europe Recommendation to member states on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity (Rec(2010)5) Summary Report ESTONIA Summary Report – ESTONIA – 2012 This publication was supported by ILGA-Europe’s Human Rights Violations Documentation Fund in the framework of the project “Implementing the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on LGBT rights”. This project is financially supported by the Dutch Government Department for Gender & LGBT Emancipation of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The opinions expressed in the document do not necessarily reflect the positions of ILGA- Europe or the Dutch Government. Authors: Marianne Meiorg and Kelly Grossthal Language editor: Grete Anton © Kelly Grossthal and Marianne Meiorg, 2012 Implementation of the CoE Rec(2010)5 on measures to comBat LGBT discrimination Contents I. Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................3 II. Recommendations to government .......................................................................................4 III. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................7 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 7 The purpose of this report ..................................................................................................................... 7 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................... 8 IV. Main part of summary report ...............................................................................................9 The Recommendation.............................................................................................................................. 9 Legal framework........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Institutional framework.......................................................................................................................................10 Remedies.....................................................................................................................................................................11 Awareness raising on LGBT issues..................................................................................................................13 The Appendix............................................................................................................................................15 I. Right to life, security and protection from violence.............................................................................15 A. “Hate crimes” and and other hate-motivated incidents .................................................................................15 Legal framework..............................................................................................................................................................15 Training...............................................................................................................................................................................15 Investigation......................................................................................................................................................................16 B. “Hate speech” ....................................................................................................................................................................17 Legal framework..............................................................................................................................................................17 Media....................................................................................................................................................................................18 Public officials...................................................................................................................................................................18 II. Freedom of association ...................................................................................................................................19 III. Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly...................................................................................20 Freedom of expression.......................................................................................................................................................20 Freedom of assembly..........................................................................................................................................................20 IV. Respect for private and family life (excluding specific transgender issues) ..........................21 Private life................................................................................................................................................................................21 Same-sex couples..................................................................................................................................................................22 Parental rights (incl adoption) .......................................................................................................................................23 V. Respect for private and family life and access to health care – specific transgender issues .........................................................................................................................................................................................24 VI. Employment........................................................................................................................................................26 VII. Education............................................................................................................................................................26 VIII. Health - other than transgender specific health issues.................................................................27 IX. Housing .................................................................................................................................................................28 X. Sports.......................................................................................................................................................................29 XI. Asylum...................................................................................................................................................................29 XII. National Human Rights Structures..........................................................................................................30 Appendices ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Appendix 1 – Definitions.......................................................................................................................31 Appendix 2 – Text of the Recommendation....................................................................................32 Appendix 3 – The Compliance Documentation Report...............................................................39 Appendix 4 – About Estonian Human Rights Centre ...................................................................40 – 2 – Summary Report – ESTONIA – 2012 I. Executive Summary This report is the result of extensive analysis of the national law and practice in Estonia in the light of the Council of Europe Recommendation to member states “on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity” and its Appendix laying down the specific obligations Estonia has in regard to LGBT persons as recognised by the current international human rights standards. The report is divided into twelve specific topics in addition to the general legal and institutional framework. There are a few general over-arching issues that tend to characterise all topics covered by this report. First, the public authorities lack, in general, comprehensive information on the situation of LGBT people in almost every area but especially so on hate crimes and hate speech, armed forces, sports, education and health. There is no monitoring and subsequent analysis taking place in these specific topics. Second, there has been no regular training of public officials on LGBT issues in any of the areas or no training at all. Public officials are not provided with any guidance as to what is expected of them and what is not acceptable in regard to LGBT people. Third, in many instances, the inherent vulnerability of LGBT people in certain areas is not recognised and thus special measures specific to their situation are not adopted. For example, bullying in school, the practice in armed forces or detention facilities. There is a lack of comprehensive state-wide strategies on the fight against discrimination in general or specifically in regard to LGBT persons that is especially harmful. The current legislation has not been properly reviewed and no awareness-raising action plan has been developed. Different public