Overview of HR situation in Estonia
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 21:20:36 +0200 (EET)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Overview of HR situation in Estonia
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Valeri Kalabugin <[email protected]>
Overview of HR situation in Estonia
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INIMO'IGUSTE INSTITUUT * ESTONIAN INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
________________________________________________________________
2 To'nism=E4gi, 10122 Tallinn, Republic of Estonia
Phone +(372) 6307477
Fax +(372) 6311239
E-mail: [email protected]
Tallinn, 2 April 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ESTONIA IN 1999
The Estonian Institute for Human Rights (EIHR) issued the 1999
overview of the situation in the area of human rights in the Republic
of Estonia. The material is available on the Internet in Estonian and
English at the EIHR home page http://www.eihr.ee. The overview is at
the web address www.eihr.ee/texts/ulevaade1999i.html.
It is the first such survey published in this Baltic state with 1,45
million population since 1991 when the independent Republic of Estonia
was restored after 51 years of Soviet occupation. From now on, EIHR
will prepare such overviews each year. "We would have published a
paper edition as well but we lack resources. So we just put it on the
web", said EIHR Chairman Mr. Aadu Oll.
Up to now, the only material available on human rights in Estonia had
been the U.S. Department of State's yearly overview that covers all
countries of the world. Mr. A. Oll says: "We consider these surveys as
objective and unbiased but they cover our affairs from the American
angle instead of proceeding from what we find essential in our
situation. For example, some things that are in the foreground
elsewhere may be of small importance in Estonia."
The overview was prepared by a group of human rights activists: former
political prisoners Mr. Aadu Oll and Mr. Enn Tarto, lawyers Mrs.
Anne-Mai Adamson, Mrs. Merle Haruoja, Mr. Ants Toom and Mr. Kalju
To'nson, journalists Mr. Erik Boltowski and Mr. Valeri Kalabugin,
historians Mr. Toivo Kamenik and Mr. =DClo Ojatalu.
EIHR is a voluntary, independent, non profit association of
individuals that keeps an eye on the areas of individual and
collective rights in Estonia and abroad. The Institute was founded
December 10, 1992, under the initiative of the Estonian President Mr.
Lennart Meri. It is the only organisation in Estonia addressing the
wide range of human rights problems.
EIHR is governed by the 5 member Board and the 23 member Advisory
Board. The Board is chaired by Mr. Aadu Oll, a political prisoner
during the Russian occupation. Mrs. Merle Haruoja, a lawyer, is
Secretary General. Other Members are Mr. Tunne Kelam, MP, Mr.
Ants-Enno Lo'hmus and Mr. Matti Pa"ts. Since 1993 till 1995 the board
was chaired by Mr. Enn Tarto, MP and a prominent freedom-fighter and
political prisoner during the Soviet period.
Among other projects by EIHR, there are legal aid desks that function
in the cities of P=E4rnu, Jo'hvi and the capital city, Tallinn. Aadu
Oll said: "When the local Soros Foundation's branch, the Open Estonia
Foundation, cut its support, we reformed these desks to legal
information desks. We are to continue this work, since free legal aid
is an unique initiative. Everyone, independent of his or her ethnic
origin, citizenship or else, can come to these bureaus with any
question concerning human rights and get free information and
competent advice."
Valeri Kalabugin
Member of Advisory Board, Estonian Institute for Human Rights
Phone: (3722)424143; from 14 May =97 (372)6484474
[email protected]
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>From the moderator: Some statements made by Mr Kalabugin look too
strong, particularly that the report is the first material on human
rights in Estonia besides the US State Department reports or that the
EIHR is the "only organisation in Estonia" addressing human rights
problems. There are definitely both other human rights NGOs and other
materials on human rights in Estonia - just in case, have a look at
the Estonian NGOs page at MINELRES, and the content of the websites
of these NGOs.
Boris
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