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Description
Estonian Human Rights Centre is an independent non-governmental human rights advocacy organization. EHRC was founded in December 2010. The mission of EHRC is to work together for Estonia to become a country that respects the human rights of each person in the country. With support of ACF the Centre focuses on the advancement of equal treatment of minority groups, diversity & inclusion and the human rights of the asylum seekers and refugees. EHRC coordinates the Estonian Diversity Charter. They also monitor the overall human rights situation in Estonia and publish bi-annual independent human rights reports about the situation in Estonia. In the field of organizational development, the Centre focuses on improving its communication activities as well as extending the scope of strategic litigation in its work.
Summary of project results
The 2-year organizational grant supported the implementation of the Human Rights Center’s strategic goals:
- Estonia is an open society where human rights are valued, protected, and ensured.
- Every individual understands that their own and others’ rights deserve protection.
The project also contributed to strengthening the center’s communication capacity and expanding its strategic litigation efforts.
In March 2022, as a consequence of Russian aggression of Ukraine, the center had to extend its activities to support Ukrainian refugees. Beyond legal counseling, the board approved broader efforts, and in partnership with the UNHCR, the center began assisting Ukrainian refugee communities and their representatives. In 2022, 122 events were organized, 25 of which were led by community members, with over 3,000 refugees participating. To address systemic challenges, more than 400 refugees were interviewed, and living conditions across Estonia were mapped.
In 2023 the center made notable progress in promoting diversity, inclusion, and human rights awareness. The Diversity Agreement network expanded to new employers; over 55 organizations celebrated Diversity Day, and 31 training sessions reached more than 800 participants. Public awareness was further increased through a widely read election promise analysis, nine studies, and a bi-annual human rights report.
In the fight against discrimination and for the protection of human rights, the center took on key cases related to freedom of expression, data protection, and restrictions to communication imposed by the detention center. Legal aid was provided to 1,432 asylum seekers, with 19 strategic refugee cases successfully handled. Border monitoring was authorized and carried out twice, alongside four detention center inspections and police training sessions to strengthen asylum protections.
Digital rights and hate speech remained central areas of focus. The center organized a conference on AI and human rights and launched Cybergram, a digital awareness platform for youth. Monthly monitoring of hate speech was conducted, along with a study for the European Commission. Policy recommendations on regulating hate speech were submitted to the government, and two strategic digital rights cases were taken to court.
To strengthen the human rights movement and the center’s capacity, a new donation page and three fundraising campaigns were launched. The center joined international networks, refined its strategic goals, and introduced an anti-harassment policy.
The operational support proved valuable in two very different years. In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it enabled the Human Rights Center to respond quickly to the large influx of refugees by securing larger office space, managing increased workloads, preventing burnout, and engaging volunteers. In 2023, the support helped the center expand strategically, develop key focus areas, and improve both internal and crisis communication.
The two-year stability allowed for internal organizational development, including the creation of an internal web portal, policy updates, a sexual harassment prevention guide, and new reporting channels. Additionally, accounting and financial management were transitioned to a fully online system, reducing administrative burden. More resources were also allocated to grant applications and fundraising to ensure sustainability beyond the funding period.
This support strengthened the center both internally and externally, helping it prepare for the coming years amid growing uncertainty, the rise of far-right movements, and increasing numbers of people in need.