full version - World Organisation Against Torture

EstoniaAfter the 1999 elections there were 17 women in the Riigikogu: 16Estonians and 1 Russian out of 101 parliamentarians. As of 16 January2003, eleven political parties are participating in the parliamentary electionsin March 2003. Each party has women candidates, usually one ortwo candidates in the top 10. The Estonian Social-Democratic LabourParty has five women candidates and the Estonian Reform Party has threewomen candidates. 272.5 Access to citizenshipCertain categories of Estonian residents are denied the right to receivepermanent residence status. Included in this group are the wives of formermilitary officers who served in armed forces of foreign states. Thesewomen are denied this right because of the (former) status of their spouses28 . Although the above-mentioned law is equally valid for both men andwomen, women are the ones who suffer the consequences of this provisionin 99% of the cases. The CEDAW expressed its concern about thissituation. 293. Violence against Women in the FamilyDomestic violence is not prosecuted as a distinct criminal offence inEstonia. Violence occurring in the family is penalised under the sectionconcerning criminal offences against a person in the Penal Code.The position and role of Estonian women has evolved through differentperiods in history. Estonian ethnographers and historians have expressedopposing opinions about Estonian women. On one hand, an Estonianwoman is described as relatively independent and less dependent on thehusband than women in other nations, but on the other hand she isdescribed as depending on her husband. For centuries, strong traditionalpatterns of a patriarchal society have developed in Estonia. Femalecharacteristics and women’s activities were often underestimated andwomen’s work was not valued to the same extent as men’s work. Thepatriarchal structure has changed through time but many attitudes andstereotypes treating men’s central role have survived until today.251