Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 38th Session

Universal Periodic Review of Estonia

Statement by Australia

4 May 2021

Australia welcomes Estonia's continued commitment to human rights, including freedom of expression. Australia acknowledges Estonia's provision of legal and social assistance to asylum seekers and efforts to enhance the inclusion of the Russian-speaking community, reduce domestic and gender-based violence and appoint more women to government ministries. Australia commends Estonia's establishment of a national human rights institution in full compliance with the Paris Principles.

Australia recommends that Estonia:

1. Increase efforts to combat sexual violence and to address barriers to reporting domestic violence, including full implementation of the Istanbul Convention.
2. Strengthen efforts to protect LGBTI persons from hate speech and address discrimination, including by amending the Equal Treatment Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in all areas of public life.  
3. Ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons [1954] and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness [1961].

Thank you.