E/C.12/EST/CO/2
The Committee urges the State party to rescind the condition imposed on the
payment of unemployment benefits, as regards the motive of termination of the
employment contract.
20. The Committee notes with concern the prevalence of domestic violence in the State
party and the absence of a specific provision of domestic violence as an offence in the
Penal Code. Furthermore, the Committee regrets that the 2010-2014 Development Plan for
the Reduction and the Prevention of Violence does not foresee large-scale awarenessraising campaigns. (art. 10)
The Committee calls on the State party to include a specific offence of domestic
violence in the Penal Code. Moreover, the Committee calls on the State party to
ensure that protection measures, including restraining orders and shelters, are
effective and accessible to victims of violence. The Committee also recommends that
the State party conduct media campaigns targeting all segments of the population
with a view to changing the society’s attitudes regarding domestic violence.
21. The Committee notes with concern the shortcomings in the legislative framework for
the protection of the child, including the Employment Contract Act which authorizes
longer working time than international standards for children under 15, the provisions of
the Penal Code on the participation of a child of 14 and above in erotic work, and the
Family Law Act which permits the marriage of a child between 15 and 18 upon a court
decision and the consent of parents or guardian. (art. 10).
The Committee urges the State party to strengthen its legislative framework on child
rights protection. In particular, the Committee urges the State party to take the
following into account in the formulation of the new Child Protection Act and other
legislative measures: bring its legislation on working time as regards children under
15 into line with international standards, prohibit the engagement of children in
erotic work, and to ensure that no marriage may be concluded with a child below 18
years of age. The Committee requests the State party to include in its next periodic
report information on the number of child marriages on an annual basis.
22. The Committee notes with concern the acute shortage of housing, including social
housing, in Tallinn and, to a lesser extent, in cities and towns as well as rural
municipalities, which undermines the ability of the State party to provide accommodation
especially for disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups. The Committee also
regrets that it has not been provided with information on the circumstances in which
evictions can be conducted without court decisions. (art. 11)
The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary measures to address the
shortage of housing, including social housing, in all regions concerned, especially for
disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups. The Committee also
requests that the State party include in its next periodic report information on any
enactment relating to evictions. In this regard, the Committee refers the State party
to its general comment No. 7 (1997) on forced evictions.
23. The Committee notes with concern that, in spite of efforts undertaken, the number of
persons living below the poverty line and those at risk of poverty remains high,
particularly among non-Estonians. (art. 11)
The Committee recommends that the State party formulate and implement policies
and strategies to reduce poverty. In this regard, the Committee refers the State party
to its 2001 statement on poverty and the Covenant.
24. The Committee expresses concern that, while the rate of abortion has decreased, it
continues to be widely practiced among adolescents, despite efforts to include sex
education in the school curricula and the dissemination of information on sexual and
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