Prohibition of discrimination in international legislation
| Treaties on human rights | Prohibited grounds for discrimination | Closed or open catalogue of grounds for discrimination | Rights, field, situations |
|---|---|---|---|
| UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (available online at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/universal-declaration/translations/english), Art 2 | Race, language, colour, gender, religious, political or other belief, national or social origin, property, status or other status | Open | All fields that are considered human rights and basic freedoms |
| UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (State Gazette, 1993, 10/11, 11), Art 2 | Race, colour, gender, language, religion, political and other beliefs, national or social origin, property, birth or other status | Open | Rights stated in the Covenant |
| UN International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (State Gazette II 1993, 10, 13), Art 2 | RRace, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other beliefs, national or social origin, property, birth or other status | Open | Rights stated in the Covenant: economic, social and cultural rights |
| UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (State Gazette II 1995, 5, 30) | Race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin | Closed | Poliitika, majandus-, sotsiaal-, kultuuri- Political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of social life |
| UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (State Gazette II 1995, 5, 31) | Sex | Closed | All human rights and basic freedoms in all fields |
| European Convention on Human Rights (State Gazette II 1996, 11, 34; RT II 2000, 11, 57), Art 14 | Sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status | Open | Rights and freedoms reflected in the main text of the Convention or in the Additional Protocols |
| Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (OJ 2007/C 303/01), Art 21 | Sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation | Closed | Any discrimination in the exercise of fundamental rights is prohibited |
| UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (State Gazette II 1996, 16, 56), Art 2 | Child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status | Open | Rights and freedoms of persons under 18 established with this Convention |
| Revised European Social Charter (State Gazette II 2000, 15, 93), Art E | Race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national extraction or social origin, health, association with a national minority, birth or other status | Open | Social rights named in the Charter |
| UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (State Gazette II, 04.04.2012, 6), Art | Persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with various obstacles, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal footing with others | Closed | Participation in social life |
In addition to the legislation set out in the table, it is important to point out that the opportunities for minority groups to participate in public life and in the labour market are also guaranteed by other legal and political measures. For example, International Labour Organisation Convention No 111 on discrimination in employment and occupation (State Gazette II 2005, 17, 51) obliges the acceding Member States to implement policies promoting equal opportunities and equal treatment at work and in the profession, and is aimed at eliminating discrimination.
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, however, has adopted a recommendation on the protection of human rights and human dignity of persons with mental health disorders and a memorandum explaining it in 2004. The Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (State Gazette II 1996, 40, 154) sets out general requirements for the integration of national minorities, with a view to ensuring that members of society belonging to national minorities have equal opportunities with representatives of indigenous peoples to participate in society and in the labour market.