Estonia: Update to Response to Information Request EST20712.E of 11 August 1995 on the Estonian Institute for Human Rights

In telephone interviews on 8, 9 and 16 August 1995, the secretary-general of the Estonian Institute for Human Rights in Tallinn provided the following information. The Estonian Institute for Human Rights is a nongovernmental organization that monitors human rights in Estonia and elsewhere in the world. The institute acts as a dispenser of legal advice; there is no legal aid legislation in Estonia, nor are there official legal aid clinics. The institute provides independent advice to people and organizations and informs people of their rights as defined in legislation. The institute deals with a wide variety of human, civil, political and cultural rights; common issues are the rights of the disabled, minority rights and difficulties in obtaining residence permits.

The institute attempts to assist people who have a difficulty or a grievance with a third party, which may be the government, a corporation, an institution or another person. The institute attempts to contact the third party, often by telephone, and explain the situation of the client. Many problems are quickly resolved after overcoming "misunderstandings." Approximately 50 per cent of the institute's clientele have their problems solved. If repeated contacts between the institute and the third party fail to resolve the problem to the client's satisfaction, the institute suggests options available to the client; these include the services of other nongovernmental organizations, advice on how to make a formal written complaint to the third party, and as a last resort, the initiation of legal action. The legal aid lawyers of the legal aid service have so far not yet defended people or organizations in the courts.

The institute received the approximate equivalent of US $2,100 from the Estonian government in 1995. The institute is primarily funded by foreign governments and organizations. The UNHCR, the International Helsinki Federation, the Danish and United States governments have all provided funds for specific projects, which are often translations into Estonian of human rights documentation and the preparations of reports. The institute recently completed a report on the situation within Estonian prisons. The Soros Foundation has provided funds for the establishment and daily functioning of the legal aid service. The institute, in conjunction with the International Helsinki Federation, is currently organizing training seminars on human rights in Estonia.The secretary-general added that the Estonian government, although it does not provide much funding to the institute, takes the information produced by the institute "into account," and occasionally responds in a positive manner to some of the recommendations published in its reports.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Estonian Institute for Human Rights, Tallinn. 16 August 1995. Telephone interview with secretary-general.

_____. 9 August 1995. Telephone interview with secretary-general.

_____. 8 August 1995. Telephone interview with secretary-general.