Legal Information Centre for Human Rights, European Network on Statelessness and Institute
on Statelessness and Inclusion
Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the
24th Session of the Universal Periodic Review
Estonia
1.
The Legal Information Centre for Human Rights, European Network on Statelessness
and Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion make this submission to the Universal
Periodic Review (UPR) in relation to statelessness, access to nationality and human
rights in Estonia.
2.
The Legal Information Centre for Human Rights (LICHR) was established in 1994 with
the support of three Danish non-governmental organizations (primarily the Danish
Centre of Human Rights) and with the assistance of the Estonian Presidential Round
Table on National Minorities, the Representative Assembly of Non-Citizens of Estonia
and Tallinn City Government. The core areas of activity are: provision of access to justice
and protection of human rights; legal aid; analysis of the human rights and ethnic
minorities’ rights situation; monitoring of Estonian legislation; contribution to the
integration process and inter-ethnic dialogue in society; and legal training in the sphere
of human rights.
3.
The European Network on Statelessness (ENS) is a civil society alliance of NGOs,
lawyers, academics and other independent experts committed to addressing
statelessness in Europe, Based in London, it currently has 100 members (including 55
organisations) in over 30 European countries. ENS organises its work around three
pillars – namely, law & policy, communications and capacity-building. The Network
provides expert advice and support to a range of stakeholders, including governments.
4.
The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (the Institute) is an independent non-profit
organisation dedicated to promoting an integrated, human rights based response to
the injustice of statelessness and exclusion. Established in August 2014, it is the first
and only global centre committed to promoting the human rights of stateless persons
and ending statelessness. Its work combines research, education, and advocacy, and it
provides expertise to civil society, academia, the UN and governments.
5.
This joint submission focuses on the issue of statelessness and access to nationality in
Estonia, which has presented a significant challenge to the full enjoyment of human
rights in the country for many years. It draws on the multiple years of research,
advocacy, awareness raising, litigation and direct support related experience both in
Estonia and internationally, of the submitting organisations.