Draft law on accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child concerning complaints procedures (534 SE) - second reading
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session.
Date: 2025-01-22 19:35
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 9
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 9/9 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The topic of the third agenda item was the second reading of draft law 534, concerning Estonia's accession to the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which deals with a complaint procedure initiated by the Republic of Estonia’s Government. The draft law aims to strengthen children's rights on an international level and to grant the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child the authority to investigate systematic and serious violations, including issues related to climate rights, as well as the protection of health and the living environment. The first readings and deadlines have been established, and the Social Committee has been designated as the leading committee; Deputy Chair Riina Solman reported on the progress of the procedure and proposed that the Social Committee, acting as the leading committee, schedule the second reading for January 22, 2025, and that the final vote would be the last step in the procedure. The draft law is part of the state’s effort to ensure better protection of children’s rights without discrimination and to incorporate international legal protection when domestic legal remedies are insufficient.
Decisions Made 3
The Social Affairs Committee decided to submit bill 534 for a second reading to the agenda of the Riigikogu plenary session on January 22, 2025, and to conclude the second reading and conduct a final vote.
The proposal by the Conservative People's Party faction to interrupt the second reading of bill 534 did not find sufficient support (11 in favor, 54 against).
Bill 534 has passed with a final vote (56 in favor, 10 against).
Most Active Speaker
Kalle Grünthal, from the EKRE faction, a right-wing political representative, was the most active speaker in this agenda item and delivered two speeches (speech 5 and 7). His participation demonstrates strong engagement and a leading role in the debate; he voiced strong criticism while simultaneously emphasizing the need to understand the potential uses of the protocol, but his remarks were, in several moments, the focus of attention due to a lack of clarity. Regardless of his viewpoints, he showed significant involvement and influence in the debate. (position: right)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
As the third item on the agenda, the Government-initiated bill No. 534 on joining the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be discussed in its second reading, presented by Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman gave an overview of Bill 534, the law on accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child concerning the complaints procedure, in the second-reading proceedings in the lead committee, noting that the first reading took place on 5 December 2024, that there were no proposed amendments, the discussion held on 14 January 2025, and the proposal to bring the bill to a second reading before the Riigikogu plenary on 22 January 2025 for a final vote, and that she is the bill’s lead sponsor.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi opened negotiations and announced that, although at the second reading everyone in principle has the right to speak, Züleyxa Izmailova represents not merely as a member of the Riigikogu, but on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speech emphasizes that the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child would grant the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child the authority to investigate serious and systematic violations of children's rights, including climate rights issues, and calls on Members of Parliament to support Draft Bill 534 so that Estonian children can live in a clean, safe and dignified living environment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and asks that the floor be given to Kalle Grünthal.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal criticized the draft's complexity and the concerns about risks, such as the possibility of child trafficking, but pointed out that a major plus is the possibility for children to file a complaint to the UN under an optional protocol, for addressing climate or other problems.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi informed that the EKRE faction's proposal to suspend the second reading of draft bill 534 will be put to a vote, and if it gains support, there will remain only one vote; if this proposal does not gain support, the final vote on the draft will be carried out according to the committee's proposal.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
11 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of interrupting the second reading of Bill 534; 54 were opposed and 0 abstained; now the matter may proceed to the committee's proposal, and a final vote on Bill 534 concerning the accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child may be taken.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Draft Bill 534 was enacted into law: 56 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour, 10 against, and there were no abstentions.