Since 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council has reviewed how well its member states meet their human rights obligations and standards. In May 2026, Estonia will undergo its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), during which the country’s efforts to protect and promote human rights will be assessed at the international level. In addition to the state report, the Equal Treatment Network – a coalition of Estonian civil society organisations – submitted a joint report to the United Nations. Last week, representatives of the Estonian Human Rights Centre and the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People presented the report in Geneva.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process under which the country under review submits a report to the UN Human Rights Council. Civil society organisations and national human rights institutions may also provide their own assessments. The aim of the UPR is to evaluate how effectively states comply with international human rights standards and fulfil their commitments.

Alongside Estonia, the human rights situation will also be reviewed in Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Palau, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Somalia. The review is conducted by the UN Human Rights Council, whose mandate is to protect and promote human rights worldwide. The Council consists of 47 member states, including Estonia, which recently began its term as a member and will serve until the end of 2028.

According to Kelly Grossthal, coordinator of the Equal Treatment Network and equal treatment expert at the Estonian Human Rights Centre, the civil society report highlights the situation of persons with disabilities and children as key concerns. Budget cuts and tax changes have had a disproportionate impact on people with low incomes, many of whom also belong to other vulnerable groups. The report also addresses several long-standing cross-cutting issues in Estonia, such as the limited scope of protection provided by the Equal Treatment Act and gaps in the regulation of hate speech.

Kristi Rekand, lawyer at the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, raised serious concerns in both the report and the presentation in Geneva. These include the growing number of people placed under guardianship and the decline in the officially recognised number of persons with disabilities. Current legislation still allows for restrictions on the right of persons with disabilities to vote. “Although guardianship can be partial, it is most often applied in full. At the same time, the decrease in the officially recognised number of persons with disabilities is troubling, especially as the number of people with health problems is actually increasing. Mental health conditions are being diagnosed more frequently, lifestyle-related illnesses are on the rise, and Estonia has an ageing population,” Rekand explained.

The report also addresses the mental health crisis among children and young people. Helen Saarnik, Head of Advocacy at the Estonian Union for Child Welfare and author of the chapter on children and youth, recommends that Estonia map the “patient journey” of children’s mental health services. This would mean designating a clear authority to coordinate prevention and intervention, ensuring stable funding, and strengthening cross-sector cooperation mechanisms.

In addition, the report covers topics such as free and fair elections, freedom of assembly and association, challenges in the asylum system, the situation of sexual and gender minorities, gender equality, and veganism.

The Equal Treatment Network includes the Estonian Human Rights Centre, Estonian LGBT Association, Estonian National Youth Council, Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, Estonian Vegan Society, Estonian Union for Child Welfare, Feministeerium, Federation of Estonian Student Unions, Estonian Refugee Council, Women’s Support and Information Centre, URALIC Centre, and the Estonian Transgender Association.

Read the joint civil society report on the human rights situation in Estonia.