Public opinion on human rights 2023
Public opinion on human rights 2023
Recent human rights’ survey: 72% of respondents prioritize freedom of speech and press
80% of respondents think that the Estonian Constitution protects human rights and values, 74% of respondents are convinced that human rights are followed in the country and 13% admit that they have discriminated against someone with their words or behaviour, but many attitudes have changed in recent years.
On the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights, the Estonian Institute of Human Rights commissioned a thorough survey from Turu-uuringute AS in order to find out what Estonian residents think about the situation of human rights in our country.
Based on the request of the Estonian Institute of Human Rights, Turu-uuringute AS carried out a survey in order to find out what Estonian residents think about the human rights situation in Estonia. Most residents believe everything is in order with human rights in Estonia, but some opinions have been downgraded in the last few years.
80% of the respondents find that the Estonian Constitution protects a person’s rights and values, 74% of respondents are convinced that the country follows human rights and 13% admit that they have discriminated against someone with their words or behaviour.
72% of respondents consider freedom of speech and press most important, at the same time, 24% of the respondents believe that this is the most problematic category. 13% of respondents admitted that they have discriminated against someone with their words or behaviour.
”We are happy to see that three quarters of the respondents are satisfied with how human rights are ensured in our society. It is good to know that more than a tenth is prepared to admit that they have violated someone’s human rights with their words or actions. Being honest with yourself is the foundation of positive change,” stated the CEO of the Estonian Institute of Human Rights, Aet Kukk.
How have attitudes changed?
The Estonian Institute of Human Rights has been organising a public opinion poll on human rights since 2012. The objective of the survey this year was to compare whether topics important in 2012 are still important in 2023.
The recent survey shows that 74% of Estonia’s residents are convinced that human rights are followed in our country. In 2012, 54% believed this, but compared to spring of 2020, when the rate was 88%, the level has dropped.
76% of the residents with Estonian citizenship believe that everything is in order regarding human rights. Respondents with Russian citizenship are not far behind in their opinion with 68% (49% in 2012) stating that human rights are complied with in Estonia. At the same time, the assessment of respondents who have undetermined citizenship has degraded considerably in the past year regarding the human rights’ situation in Estonia– a year ago, 69% felt that the situation is fine, but this time, only 43% of the respondents felt this way.
As in 2012, on average, there are more people among those with Russian citizenship living in Estonia and undetermined citizenship who think that human rights are violated in Estonia – correspondingly 30% (43% in 2012) and 49% (31% in 2012). 20% of Estonian citizens believe this (27% in 2012).
“Among Russian nationality and people with undetermined citizenship, national or language equality dominate, correspondingly 53% and 50%. This troubled respondents from other countries even more – 65%.
Based on the results, we can conclude that the primary reason for differences derives from low level of competence in the Estonian language, the fear of inability to cope in an Estonian language community and the limitations of the Russian language media and information space. Also, the potential full transition to Estonian language education, the appeals to restrict the number of Russian language classes in educational institutions and public services, and value conflicts regarding Soviet monuments,” stated the CEO of the Estonian Institute of Human Rights Aet Kukk, commenting on the results.
Connection between opinions, education and income
Similarly to 2012, younger age groups, 15–19 year-olds and 20–29 year-olds, have a more positive outlook, and 90% (64% in 2012) of them think that human rights are respected in Estonia. Among the 40–49 age group, 65% believe this to be true (58% in 2012), whilst 31% do not agree and 5% (24% in 2012) do not know.
There is also a noticeable connection between the respondent’s opinion and their income and education – the lower the income and lower the education level, the more likely the person is to believe that human rights are violated in Estonia.
Regionally, the most opposing opinions on human rights prevail among the residents of Ida-Viru County. 34% of the respondents there (37% in 2012) think that human rights are not respected in Estonia, at the same time, 61% (37% in 2012) believe human rights are respected.
Freedom of speech is important to 88% of men and 64% of women. Women emphasize the rights of children (45%), rights of people with disabilities and special needs (35%) and the right to equality in the eyes of the law (37%). Men prioritize freedom of speech (82%), free elections (51%) and the right to be treated equally in the eyes of the law (42%).
What is considered most problematic?
When it comes to rights that are considered most problematic in Estonia, then freedom of speech and press are named to an overwhelming degree– 24% of the respondents find these lacking. In 2012, social equality was considered the biggest problem (39% of respondents).
As in 2012, in second place, we find the opinion that there are problems in Estonia with racial, national and language equality. 20% believe this (26% in 2012), and also that rights are not guaranteed to people with disabilities according to 16% (24% in 2012). Currently, 5% find children’s rights problematic (12% in 2012), 12 % in case of LGBT+ groups (6% in 2012) and 9% with gender equality (10% in 2012).
Here too, the opinions of different ethnic groups vary considerably. Estonians outline more frequently the problems regarding social equality and the rights of people with disabilities, children, gender and sexual minorities. Non-Estonians, however, especially residents with undetermined citizenship, consider national/ language equality important – 39% (50% in 2012) – and freedom of speech – 50% on average (10% in 2012). Approximately 9% (19% in 2012) do not perceive free elections and 31% (20% in 2012) see social inequality.
”The concern for freedom of speech provides food for thought. People with undetermined citizenship and other foreigners’ referring to violations of language equality is a sign that we need to find opportunities to increase teaching and use of the Estonian language. Lack of skills in the state language decreases people’s opportunities in society. At the same time, the large number of people who do not speak Estonian, violates our right to use our mother tongue in the majority of situations,” finds Vootele Hansen.
Institutions
80% of respondents find that the Constitution protects their rights and values. When it comes to institutions that defend the rights and values of residents, then the most popular answer is courts (69%), the President of the Republic (67%) and the Chancellor of Justice (66%), followed by local governments (66%), in case of which 25% think that the local government does not look out for their rights.
“It is remarkable that under the current economic conditions, fewer people consider socio-economic equality significant than 11 years ago, when the previous economic crisis was receding,“ comments Hansen on the change in attitudes over time.
The respondents are rather critical regarding the Government, Parliament and the media: 46%, 44% and 43% of respondents correspondingly think that the latter protect citizens’ rights and values, and almost as many believe that they do not – correspondingly 47%, 46% and 43%.
Situation regarding understanding legislation
15% of the respondents were familiar with the Gender Equality Act and 40% admitted that they know little about it even though it was adopted already in 2004. 50% of the respondents had familiarized themselves with the Registered Partnership Act (adopted by the parliament Riigikogu in 2014 and entered into effect in 2016) and 44% knew little about it.
47% of the respondents (46% know little about it) have read the amendments to the Family Law Act which is also called the marriage equality act, i.e. the act allowing for gender-neutral marriage, and 44% of the respondents are up-to-date on the addition to the Penal Code, the so-called hate speech bill, aimed at protecting the society from incitement of hate and the most severe forms of hate crimes, 49% knew little about it and 29% hadn’t heard anything about it.
Only those who were familiar with the topic answered the questions about how important the above-mentioned legal acts and bills are. 71% found that the Gender Equality Act is necessary, 25% considered it unnecessary. In case of the registered Partnership Act, 67% believe it to be necessary and 28% considered it unnecessary. 68% of the respondents were for marriage equality legislation and 27% of the respondents considered it unnecessary.
55% of the respondents who were informed regarding the so-called hate speech legal act were in favor of it and 39% were against. When asked whether the adoption of this legal act could threaten freedom of speech, 54% answered yes and 31% of the respondents answered no. 65% of all respondents believe that public incitement of hate without a specific threat to someone’s life, health or property should be punishable according to criminal law, however, 29% think that it should not be penalized.
Aet Kukk: “We must admit that proportionally, the results in all groups of respondents have become more individualistic and negative compared to the survey results in previous years, individualist values are in the forefront. People’s opinion of human rights and security is heavily influenced by their primary language of communication, nationality, citizenship, level of education and income, social status and place of residence.“
We can presume that the respondents’ attitudes have been affected by the military conflict in Ukraine and potential large-scale construction of state infrastructure objects (Rail Baltica, potential nuclear power plant, Nursipalu military training area, possible construction of industrial buildings and wind farms), this has made respondents fearful and people focus rather on their personal welfare than the interest of the society at large.“
75 years pass from the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN on December 10
The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. The remarkable fact is that the Soviet Union and its vassal states abstained during the vote.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a convention, contract nor resolution. Therefore, it is not binding for states. Most contemporary states were not able to form an opinion on the Declaration, because they were not on the world map in 1948.
The Universal Declaration states that human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of origin, sex, age, race, language, religion, conscience or any other status.
According to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights are inherent rights of every human being, the purpose of which is to ensure a life of dignity and worth for everyone. These are based on the understanding that human beings are moral beings and that human dignity is part of being human. Thus, human rights do not derive from specific legal acts, but from the fact of being human. Human rights are supranational and the state has no right to restrict human rights by invoking sovereignty or internal affairs.
Unfortunately, the ideas cast in legislation and reality do not always correspond. International declarations and conventions have failed to put an end to human rights abuses and to guarantee real equality and respect for freedoms. Since the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, blood-curdling atrocities have been committed, the victims of which can be counted in the millions.
See previous surveys here