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Description
The aim of the project is to raise awareness in Estonia that an important part of human rights is bodily autonomy, ie the right to make independent decisions about one''s body, sexuality and reproduction. This is done through advocacy and consistent communication work in Estonian and Russian. Youth are targeted through a positive, empowering, and affirmative social media campaign on sexual consent and workshops on consent “How to say yes?”. As a result of the project, a discussion has started in Estonia on the need to introduce consent-based rape legislation; the human right to bodily autonomy has been introduced into societal debates on abortion and gender-based violence; young people''s awareness of the importance of consent has increased; and the advocacy capacity of the organizations involved in the project has improved.
Summary of project results
Human rights encompass the fundamental right to make decisions about one’s body, sexuality, and reproductive health independently. This perspective highlights both the physical and psychological integrity of individuals. Bodily autonomy, in its simplest form, means that people have the right to control what happens to their bodies. Every sexual act must involve the enthusiastic consent of all parties, not merely the absence of a “no.” Without such consent, it is considered sexual violence. Bodily autonomy also entails the right to safe and legal abortion access.
The Estonian criminal code concerning sexual crimes does not align with the principle of bodily autonomy. It includes three separate provisions that can be applied in cases of rape, all of which refer to the use of violence or the victim’s ability to physically resist. However, the definition of rape should encompass all sexual acts performed without consent. None of these provisions meet international standards, including the Istanbul Convention, to which Estonia is a party. The Council of Europe has called on member states to amend their laws accordingly.
Attitudes reflecting these legal shortcomings are also troubling. In Estonia, 47% of people agree with the statement that women provoke being raped by their choice of clothing. Additionally, 12% of Estonian men and 35% of men from other ethnic groups believe that a woman who has allowed herself to be hugged and kissed should not refuse sex. Sexual violence is widespread: 33% of Estonian women have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, and 53% have faced sexual harassment. The number of registered sexual crimes in Estonia has more than doubled in the past decade, with a significant proportion of victims being minors (85%).
While the primary goal of the project is to initiate a discussion about the need to amend the criminal code, the issue is addressed more broadly. Cyber violence and harassment can also lead to serious consequences. Consent is essential even when there is no direct physical contact. Coercion into sex may not always be physical but can involve manipulation, intimidation through economic barriers in intimate relationships, psychological pressure, or other abuses of power dynamics. Sexual harassment significantly impacts young people''s self-esteem and can have long-term negative consequences, including a sense that personal boundaries do not matter.
Addressing these issues involves promoting bodily autonomy and safeguarding the right of individuals, including those in vulnerable groups, to make independent decisions. A comprehensive approach requires discussing human rights, violence, harassment, and sexual and reproductive health in a broader context.
Initiating Public Discussion on Legislative Reform Regarding Sexual Crimes
To spark a discussion on amending the Penal Code to ensure that definitions of sexual crimes are based on freely given consent, the project organized public discussions and media outreach. Over the course of the project, three public seminars were held, with a total of 191 participants. Additionally, Feministeerium published advocacy statements 69 times during the project period. These efforts were not solely focused on the issue of consent; the advocacy work was intersectional and cross-sectoral, addressing various dimensions of human rights. Consent has been Feministeerium’s primary priority for the past two years.
Awareness-Raising Activities
To raise general awareness, a series of events and discussions were organized for various target groups, with a total of 133 participants. Among these was a discussion evening titled “My Body, My Choice,” which explored topics such as bodily autonomy, its relevance across different areas of life, the distinction between reproductive rights and reproductive justice, and the boundaries of bodily autonomy in relation to societal responsibilities.
A notable collaboration with the Estonian Academy of Arts included a consent-focused project and the exhibition “Respect Boundaries!” which continues beyond the project''s conclusion. Additionally, two workshops on consent were conducted as part of Baltic Pride.
In total, 75 articles related to the project’s themes were published, one-third of which appeared in Russian on Feministeerium’s online platform. Of these, 10 articles reached mainstream media. Beyond mentions and appearances tied directly to the project, Feministeerium was cited and invited to participate in 49 additional events/interviews.
Reaching Youth and Russian-Speaking Communities
A third goal of the project was to increase awareness among youth, including Russian-speaking youth, about the importance of consent. To this end, a social media campaign titled “You Are Always Right!” was launched on Instagram, targeting both Estonian and Russian-speaking audiences. The campaign achieved significant results, surpassing its planned reach of 50,000 and engagement of 4,000.
Capacity-Building for Participating Organizations
The fourth goal was to enhance the advocacy capacity of participating organizations, creating a foundation for greater societal impact in the fields of human rights and women’s rights. To support this, a training session titled “How to Create Positive Narratives” was held, along with two partner meetings facilitated by the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association (IWRA). These meetings provided valuable insights at the start of the project and strategic guidance for future efforts at its conclusion.
The aim of the project was to raise awareness within Estonian society about the importance of bodily autonomy as a fundamental aspect of human rights—namely, the right to make independent decisions about one’s body, sexuality, and reproductive health.
As planned, the project initiated a national discussion in Estonia on the necessity of legislative reform, focusing on:
- Redefining sexual crimes based on the presence or absence of consent;
- Introducing a human rights perspective centered on bodily autonomy into societal discourse on abortion and gender-based violence;
- Increasing awareness among youth about the importance of consent;
- Enhancing the capacity of organizations involved in the project to advocate for the protection of rights effectively.
An indirect objective of the project was to contribute to a reduction in sexual violence and to foster greater societal support for human rights, particularly gender equality, in Estonia. Several important milestones were achieved, bringing the project closer to these goals.
The outcomes of the project exceeded initial expectations. By examining international practices, the project team prepared for a long-term effort. Given the limited prior attention to the topic of consent in Estonia, the initial expectation was to spark conversations and lay the groundwork for discussion. However, the project advanced beyond this goal, culminating in the drafting of a legislative proposal. Remarkably, this proposal was also included in the coalition agreement of the incoming government in the Spring of 2023.
In addition to the planned activities, the project achieved several noteworthy outcomes:
- Effective advocacy efforts were undertaken, continuing beyond the project period and reaching substantive activities at the state level.
- A legislative proposal was successfully drafted.
- The legislative proposal was incorporated into the coalition agreement.
Moreover, the topic of consent has gained independent traction in mainstream media. During May and June 2023, articles, interviews, and public opinions—both supportive and critical—on the issue of consent appeared weekly.
The project team considers the extensive public discourse on consent to be a significant achievement. The broad societal engagement demonstrates the impact of the project in shaping the national conversation around consent and human rights.
Summary of bilateral results
The Icelandic Women’s Rights Association (IWRA) has extensive experience in advocating for women’s interests at the national level. In addition, IWRA values and supports local grassroots initiatives. The organization was invited to partner on this project because Iceland successfully passed a consent-based law in 2018 with unanimous parliamentary support. IWRA possesses significant knowledge of this process and maintains a wide network of contacts, including activists, politicians, and legal experts who were involved in legislative changes. Their insights into overcoming the challenges associated with adopting the Consent Act and their advice on effective advocacy work were invaluable to all project partners.A total of three important meetings were held with the support of the foreign partner, among them a public seminar in 2023.The public seminar with Icelandic experts facilitated a broader discussion on bodily autonomy and human rights in society, using Iceland’s experience as a case study. The focus was on the unanimous adoption of Iceland’s consent law in 2018, exploring the solutions chosen, their rationale, and the situation five years after implementation.The seminar offered a detailed look at the behind-the-scenes process that facilitated the legislative change in Iceland.The 2nd partner meeting towards the end of the project provided an opportunity to share progress, exchange experiences, and discuss follow-up activities before the project’s conclusion. IWRA played a key advisory role, addressing challenges encountered during the project.This meeting included deeper discussions about topics raised during the seminar. It provided a safe and private environment for local partners to ask challenging questions, address struggles, and voice concerns—particularly on issues that public discourse in Estonia was not yet ready to tackle. The meeting was instrumental in summarizing project outcomes and planning for future advocacy efforts.