Human rights situation in Estonia 2024

The public opinion survey commissioned by the Estonian Institute of Human Rights shows that most Estonian residents have a positive opinion of the human rights situation, though in recent years, there has been some decline in the ratings.

77% of respondents think that human rights are respected in Estonia. Men (79%) are slightly more convinced than women (76%). However, younger respondents are the most likely to feel this way, for example 93% of 20-29 year-olds. Among those of Estonian nationality, 84% think that human rights are respected, 64% of Russian nationality and 36% of respondents of undetermined citizenship think that this is not the case.

69% of respondents agree that human rights can only be guaranteed if national security is guaranteed first. The highest support for this statement is among women (74%) and Estonian respondents (75%).

When asked whether the interests of the state and society would outweigh the interests of the individual in a war situation, 72% of all respondents answered yes.

91% of all respondents agreed that ensuring human rights is a precondition for the security of a democratic state based on the rule of law.

57% of respondents consider that dual citizenship confers significantly more political and economic privileges or rights to some citizens compared to citizens holding only one citizenship. Respondents in the 40-49 age group are particularly likely to think so: 67%.

In 2024, 70% of respondents believe that the Estonian Constitution protects their rights, which is 10% lower than in 2023. The proportion of those who think the opposite has risen, to 25% of respondents.

The most important human rights, aside from traditional core values such as the right to life, free healthcare, and education, were considered to be freedom of speech and the press (57%), equality before the law (50%), and the protection of personal data (41%). Social security rights, including the right to rest and retirement, were deemed important by 38%, as well as the right to fair trials (38%) and free elections (37%). Children’s rights were highlighted by 34% of respondents, while racial, national, or linguistic equality was important to 32%. This was followed by gender equality (21%) and the rights of people with disabilities (30%).

 

12% of respondents admitted to having discriminated against someone with their words or behavior. 16% of men and 8% of women thought they had discriminated against someone with their words or behavior, i.e. violated someone else’s human rights on social media, with a public or private statement, in a memo, by spreading uncontrolled information, etc. The figure was highest among young people (18-19 year-olds) and 30-39 year-olds – 20%.

52% of respondents do not support the criminalisation of hate speech, but 38% are in favour, with more women in favour than men, 42% and 32% respectively.

Summary

People in Estonia generally have a positive view of the human rights situation. One of the reasons for this may be a growing dissatisfaction with the constitution’s ability to protect citizens, and this is reflected in the following issue: there is sentiment that rights granted on the basis of goodwill to permanent residents of another country or of undetermined citizenship give more rights to those who do not respect Estonian values and the rule of law than to citizens of the country.

International and domestic developments, such as misinformation and political and military conflicts, have an impact on respect for human rights, as the results of the survey also demonstrate.

There is also uncertainty about whether international law, the Declaration of Fundamental Rights and the charters will work and provide reassurance when crises hit society. This calls for a conscious and balanced approach to the protection of human rights, rather than a descent into emotion or the subordination of society to the interests of a few vocal groups.