Estonia has made some progress toward gender equality but still faces challenges, particularly in the areas of power and pay. On average, the country's equality index is 50 out of 100, compared to the European average of 54. Statistics show women earn approximately 30% less than men for the same jobs and positions. While health and work opportunities are more equal, only 27.5% of powerful positions are held by women. Recent legal improvements established a gender equality commissioner and require impact analyses of new legislation. However, no overarching gender equality plan exists. A nonprofit organization promotes gender equality through cultural events like workshops and discussions.

1. GENDER EQUALITY:
ESTONIA
Presentation by Liina Käär
Project manager at NGO Tõstamaa Manor

2. STATISTICS
• Average equality index is 50 – Europe
average is 54 (equality – 100, inequality 0)
• Most problematic areas:
• Power 27,5
• Money 49,1
(estonian women get approx. 30% less money
than men for same job on same position)
• Most advanced areas:
• Health 83,8
• Work 64,4
Source: eige.europe.eu

3. IMPROVEMENTS ON LEGAL LEVEL
• From 2005–2012, a dual approach was used for
promoting gender equality in Estonia, undertaking both
specific actions and promoting the implementation of a
gender mainstreaming strategy.
• Although there has been no general gender equality
action plan, gender equality issues and/or problems have
been considered in different policy documents, e.g., the
National Health Plan 2009–2020,the Development Plan
for Reducing Violence for the years 2010–2014 and the
Development Plan of Children and Families 2012–2020.

4. IMPROVEMENTS ON LEGAL LEVEL
2
• January 2009, the areas of responsibility of the Ministry of Social
Affairs, the Gender Equality Commissioner, and independent and
impartial experts were respectively widened-Equal Treatment Act
• Several activities to promote gender equality in working life have
been carried out under the Estonian European Social Fund
programmes Promoting Gender Equality 2008– 2010 and
Promoting Gender Equality 2011–2013.
• In December 2011, the Government of the Republic adopted new
Rules for Good Legislative Drafting and Technical Rules for Drafts
of Legislative Acts which foresees an obligation of impact analysis
of draft legislation.
• In June 2012, the new Public Service Act was adopted and entered
into force on 1 April 2013. The remaining reference to equal
treatment in the new act states that public offices have to ensure
the protection of public servants against discrimination, follow the
principle of equal treatment and promote equality.

5. Non-profit feminine cultural festival:
•Workshops (e.g. Comic book workshop "Stories of Women"
)
•Movie programme
•Different cultural events (e.g. Poetry roundtable at Kapsad
Library. The roundtable will focus on both published and
new poetry. We will deform masculine poetry from a feminist
perspective by using the cut-up technique.)

6. Non-profit feminine cultural festival:
•Workshops (e.g. Comic book workshop "Stories of Women"
)
•Movie programme
•Different cultural events (e.g. Poetry roundtable at Kapsad
Library. The roundtable will focus on both published and
new poetry. We will deform masculine poetry from a feminist
perspective by using the cut-up technique.)