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17 March 2000
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17 March 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning
concluded its consideration of a report submitted by the Government of Estonia on its compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Responding to questions raised by Committee experts, the members of the Estonian delegation said Estonia had a liberal policy regarding the print media: no licence, permit or registration was required to set up a newspaper, the delegation said. The number of Russian-language newspapers had grown considerably over the past few years; and access of minorities to the media was expressly guaranteed by Estonian legislation, they said.
Mario Jorge Yutsis, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Estonia, said he was of the view that the restrictive definition of a minority under Estonian law would unbalance the Government's integration efforts. Only minorities possessing Estonian citizenship fell under that category, while non-citizens living in the country were ignored. He said the classification of people into first, second or third categories was against the spirit of the Convention.
The Estonian delegation was led by Karin Jaani, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of Estonia's Parliament, and it included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Secretary of State; and the Permanent Mission of Estonia at Geneva.
Also taking part in the discussion were Committee members Mahmoud Aboul-Nasr, Ion Diaconu, Regis de Gouttes and Patricia Nozipho January-Bardill.
Estonia is among the 155 States parties to the Convention and as such it is obligated to submit periodic reports on how it is complying with the terms of the treaty.
Patricia Nozipho January-Bardill, the Committee expert who was assigned to contact the South African Mission concerning the Committee's proposal to hold its August 2001 session in that country, told the members that the reaction of the officials of the Mission was positive and they were happy to welcome the Committee. The Committee had suggested holding its session at the same time as the forthcoming World Conference against Racism which will be held in South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
Following the conclusion of the consideration of the Estonian report, the Committee went into a private meeting to take up communications which it received from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of their rights under the Convention. Only States parties that recognized the competence of the Committee under article 14 of the Convention were concerned by this procedure.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3.p.m., it will take up the report of Lesotho.
Discussion
In response to a number of queries put by the Committee's experts at the previous meeting, the members of the Estonian delegation said that Estonia had a liberal policy regarding the print media: no licence, permit or registration was required to set up a newspaper. The number of Russian-language newspapers had grown considerably over the past few years. In addition, access of minorities to the media was expressly guaranteed by Estonian legislation.
Estonia did not in any way regulate the use of languages in personal communication between individuals, the delegation said. Every person had the right to use his or her minority language freely and without interference by any State authorities. Several local government units, where the majority of the population was of Russian origin and did not speak the Estonian language, were using Russian as an internal working language in parallel to the official language.
In order to achieve educational reform by the year 2007, all graduates from non-Estonian language basic schools should have sufficient knowledge of Estonian to enable them to continue their studies in the Estonian language, the delegation said. At present, Russian-language education was provided throughout the state-run educational system. According to the plan set for 2007, the Government was intending to introduce Estonian language in most of the educational institutions.
Responding to a question on the status of the Convention, the delegation said that as international treaties were directly applicable in Estonia, the provisions of the Convention might also be referred to in local courts.
Committee experts put additional questions focusing on such issues as the definition and treatment of minorities; acquisition of Estonian citizenship; the functioning of the immigration quota system; and the existence of racist associations, among other things. The delegation said it would provide the answers in their next periodic report.
MARIO JORGE YUTSIS, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Estonia, said that the past only had true meaning if it was linked to the future in the effort to build the country. In that process, Estonia should comply fully with the provisions of the Convention.
Mr. Yutsis said he was of the view that the restrictive definition of a minority under Estonian law unbalanced the Government's integration efforts. Only minorities possessing Estonian citizenship fell under that category, while non-citizens living in the country were ignored. He said that according to the Convention's definition, non-citizens should be considered as minorities. Estonia's definition would disturb the integration process.
Referring to the immigration quota system, Mr. Yutsis said the classification of people into first, second or third categories was against the spirit of the Convention. No State had the right to classify people of the world into categories. He requested the officials to include in their next periodic report the situation of Russians, the real situation of education and employment and the number of stateless persons who were given citizenship.
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Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning
concluded its consideration of a report submitted by the Government of Estonia on its compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Responding to questions raised by Committee experts, the members of the Estonian delegation said Estonia had a liberal policy regarding the print media: no licence, permit or registration was required to set up a newspaper, the delegation said. The number of Russian-language newspapers had grown considerably over the past few years; and access of minorities to the media was expressly guaranteed by Estonian legislation, they said.
Mario Jorge Yutsis, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Estonia, said he was of the view that the restrictive definition of a minority under Estonian law would unbalance the Government's integration efforts. Only minorities possessing Estonian citizenship fell under that category, while non-citizens living in the country were ignored. He said the classification of people into first, second or third categories was against the spirit of the Convention.
The Estonian delegation was led by Karin Jaani, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of Estonia's Parliament, and it included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Secretary of State; and the Permanent Mission of Estonia at Geneva.
Also taking part in the discussion were Committee members Mahmoud Aboul-Nasr, Ion Diaconu, Regis de Gouttes and Patricia Nozipho January-Bardill.
Estonia is among the 155 States parties to the Convention and as such it is obligated to submit periodic reports on how it is complying with the terms of the treaty.
Patricia Nozipho January-Bardill, the Committee expert who was assigned to contact the South African Mission concerning the Committee's proposal to hold its August 2001 session in that country, told the members that the reaction of the officials of the Mission was positive and they were happy to welcome the Committee. The Committee had suggested holding its session at the same time as the forthcoming World Conference against Racism which will be held in South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
Following the conclusion of the consideration of the Estonian report, the Committee went into a private meeting to take up communications which it received from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of their rights under the Convention. Only States parties that recognized the competence of the Committee under article 14 of the Convention were concerned by this procedure.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3.p.m., it will take up the report of Lesotho.
Discussion
In response to a number of queries put by the Committee's experts at the previous meeting, the members of the Estonian delegation said that Estonia had a liberal policy regarding the print media: no licence, permit or registration was required to set up a newspaper. The number of Russian-language newspapers had grown considerably over the past few years. In addition, access of minorities to the media was expressly guaranteed by Estonian legislation.
Estonia did not in any way regulate the use of languages in personal communication between individuals, the delegation said. Every person had the right to use his or her minority language freely and without interference by any State authorities. Several local government units, where the majority of the population was of Russian origin and did not speak the Estonian language, were using Russian as an internal working language in parallel to the official language.
In order to achieve educational reform by the year 2007, all graduates from non-Estonian language basic schools should have sufficient knowledge of Estonian to enable them to continue their studies in the Estonian language, the delegation said. At present, Russian-language education was provided throughout the state-run educational system. According to the plan set for 2007, the Government was intending to introduce Estonian language in most of the educational institutions.
Responding to a question on the status of the Convention, the delegation said that as international treaties were directly applicable in Estonia, the provisions of the Convention might also be referred to in local courts.
Committee experts put additional questions focusing on such issues as the definition and treatment of minorities; acquisition of Estonian citizenship; the functioning of the immigration quota system; and the existence of racist associations, among other things. The delegation said it would provide the answers in their next periodic report.
MARIO JORGE YUTSIS, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Estonia, said that the past only had true meaning if it was linked to the future in the effort to build the country. In that process, Estonia should comply fully with the provisions of the Convention.
Mr. Yutsis said he was of the view that the restrictive definition of a minority under Estonian law unbalanced the Government's integration efforts. Only minorities possessing Estonian citizenship fell under that category, while non-citizens living in the country were ignored. He said that according to the Convention's definition, non-citizens should be considered as minorities. Estonia's definition would disturb the integration process.
Referring to the immigration quota system, Mr. Yutsis said the classification of people into first, second or third categories was against the spirit of the Convention. No State had the right to classify people of the world into categories. He requested the officials to include in their next periodic report the situation of Russians, the real situation of education and employment and the number of stateless persons who were given citizenship.
* *** *