Draft law (583 SE) for the first reading regarding accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and approval of amendment to Article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention.
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-03-20 13:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 61
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 46m
AI Summaries: 61/61 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The present session focused on consideration of draft law 583 in the first reading of the Riigikogu, concerning accession to the optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and approval of the amendment to Article 20(1) of the Convention. The draft law aims to give the people of Estonia an additional tool for protection and safeguarding rights – complaints regarding violations of the Convention can be submitted to the UN Committee, and investigations can be initiated if domestic legal protection has not been effective. An important technical nuance is that accession to the optional protocol does not require any additional legislation or major satisfaction or administrative costs in Estonia – funding will be accounted for within the existing budget and no additional jobs will be created. An amendment has also been presented concerning the duration of the sessions of the Convention’s monitoring body: the aim is to eliminate restrictions and make the duration of the sessions more flexible due to the increased number of participating states.
Decisions Made 4
First reading completed regarding draft 583.
Appoint Madis Timpson as the representative of the steering committee.
To add the draft to the plenary session agenda for March 18th.
To confirm the lack of need for additional official changes and to present solutions within the existing budget (no additional expenses are anticipated).
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker in this session was 63JvL6tKBQE, who posed both questions and answers and represented a faction whose position was marked as "other" (no precise data were presented regarding the basic left- or right-wing alignment). They focused on substantive questions about the nature and impact of the protocol and actively participated in the discussion, offering both technically and pragmatically considered perspectives.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Parliament continues with the second item on the agenda, in which the first reading of Draft Bill No. 583 concerning the accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the amendment to Article 20(1) of the Convention is discussed, presented by Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
With the proposal, Estonia wishes to join the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which gives people the right to file complaints and, where necessary, to investigations, and strengthens the Convention's implementation, without requiring changes to Estonia's laws, and at the same time the amendment to Article 20(1) of the Convention is approved, removing the limitation on the duration of Committee sessions, which enters into force upon approval by two-thirds of the States Parties (currently 81 have approved it).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller states that there are questions, and asks Tanel Kiike to answer.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks the minister why Estonia has not yet joined the optional protocol, which seems entirely adequate and practical.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, thanked for the question and said that there is nothing.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asked the presenter to provide practical examples about the problem to be solved and to present budget-related numbers, since the initiative's funding comes through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Industry.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The name Evelin Poolamets is mentioned in the speech.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The submission confirms that joining the convention will not incur additional costs or require new legislation, since existing measures are used and the convention's proposals are advisory, which increases awareness of equal treatment and gives people the opportunity to seek recourse both domestically and internationally, and shows Estonia that we are one of the last two EU member states that have not yet joined, but joining indicates the sharing of the same value space with friends and allies.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice Chairman Arvo Aller invites Riina Solmani onto the stage.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the bureaucratization of the protocol and asks whether the right given to women to appeal to international institutions also applies to men, and whether men have the same opportunity to obtain assistance.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that in Estonia there is currently no concrete optional protocol or avenue to turn to, but at the UN, member states may initiate a debate about it, and his work focuses mainly on increasing the competitiveness of the economy, for which a 45-point action plan has been drawn up, and to date he has consistently worked on the economy’s competitiveness, with the remaining time devoted to reviving it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair Arvo Aller invites Helle-Moonika Helme onto the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticizes the interpretation of equal rights for men and women as proposed in the protocol, and asks how these rights can be protected if men lack the opportunity to stand up for their rights, and notes that the convention has fallen behind the times and needs to be reviewed, asking why we follow old conventions that do not reflect today's world.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo emphasized that equal treatment of people remains important and discrimination must not occur, and although at the UN one can issue statements together with friends and allies, international measures come into effect only when a person in Estonia is not given help initially.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller urged Reili Randi.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand emphasized that promoting equal opportunities for women is a principled and important change, criticized the stance of the EKRE faction and Isamaa, who see it as additional bureaucracy, and asked what the shortcomings of Estonian women's rights are and what has been highlighted during the CEDAW review.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that in Estonia the gender pay gap has narrowed rapidly in recent years, and although it has not yet been finally overcome, the progress is clear, and he will send the rest in writing.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked Urmas Reinsalu to take the floor.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu says that the economy is deteriorating.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes growth and directs attention to Urmas.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu expresses surprise and criticism that, instead of Estonia’s economic growth, the government has focused on issues of gender equality and discrimination, and he asks how this decision came about during last summer and why the ministries’ areas of responsibility have become tangled, urging a focus on the economy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The message "Your Time!" calls on listeners to act and shows that it is now their turn.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asks about the profile of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that, although the employment sector has historically been together with the Equality Department, it is necessary to increase the competitiveness of the economy through initiatives implemented in cooperation with the private sector, and the state does not run the economy, but creates a competitive environment for entrepreneurship, where the economy grows, which is confirmed by the 1.2% growth in the last quarter of the previous year.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks whether Estonia plans to adopt the same 45-point systemic plan, which, in addition to competence, requires in leadership bodies a certain percentage of women, Black people, homosexuals, and other minorities, and whether such a principle of diversity could boost the economy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Siim Pohlaku onto the stage.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo notes that the belittling of women is embarrassing and irrational, and he emphasizes that people should be treated equally regardless of gender or age.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Siim Pohlak presents a procedural question to the chair of the meeting.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak said that he did not want to belittle the presenter, and asked Mr. Chairman whether he felt that Pohlak would have belittled the presenter.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller emphasizes that procedurally it has nothing to do with his feelings, and he turns to Evelin Poolametsa with a request.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets accuses the Reform Party in the Riigikogu of discriminating against women and regards their recent initiative as a meaningless bureaucratic stopgap that does not improve behavior or advance the economy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
He says that it's your time now.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that the economy is not steered by him or the government, but that they create a competitive environment for the economy; his entire resource goes to answering questions, and after that it will be at your disposal for handling, and it is not hollow content, but on the contrary — it does not incur any additional costs, because the obligations are fulfilled with the existing human resources, as he mentioned to the commission.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker Helle-Moonika Helme expresses concern about whether the gender-based optional protocol truly addresses discrimination in all its forms, and whether women's equality in the exercise of fundamental freedoms means their equal treatment among themselves or a broader equality with other groups.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Each complaint is evaluated and analyzed separately to determine whether its content is justified or not.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The chair asked Reili Randi to come forward.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand expressed disappointment that colleagues ridiculed the importance of the topic, highlighted examples from McKinsey's studies on the benefits of gender diversity, and asked whether the low participation of women at the level of the boards and supervisory boards of Estonian state-owned enterprises is not a problem.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The government has agreed on a participation policy in which the councils are balanced and greater employment involves everyone, regardless of gender or age, reducing discrimination and making future decisions better.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller invites Riina Solman onto the stage.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the minister's condescending response, asks how an optional protocol does not increase bureaucracy or cost, and who will address male discrimination in leadership positions, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of women's rights.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
I agreed that vanity is a sin, but I answered the question and briefly listed what I am doing to revive the economy, and in the commission it was said that analyses and the experiences of other countries show that the majority of concerns are resolved domestically, which provides an additional opportunity.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi expresses criticism of bureaucracy and believes in the minister's competence, but asks whether changing the laws is necessary, whether there is any legal loophole, and whether he, as the chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, must handle this.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Andre Hanimägi to come.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Erkki Keldo, said that with this accession there is no need to change any law or legal act in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks to invite Tanel Kiiki to perform.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks the minister what additional steps the government plans to take to reduce the gender pay gap and to promote more equal treatment of men and women.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo confirmed that the handling of the bill that has become a well-established practice in the Riigikogu will continue, and within the scope of this bill no further steps will be taken, but elsewhere, certainly.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller pointed out that Estonia is the only country with e-voting, but has not joined the convention, and he asked for examples of situations in which all options have been exhausted and there is no option for a person to appeal to the UN, because Estonia is not a member of the convention.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks Arvo Aller to take the floor.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
The speaker emphasizes that Estonia has several unique things, and 100% digital public services provide the possibility of e-voting, but people have not encountered it nor are they aware of it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanked the minister and opened negotiations, requesting Helle-Moonika Helme to speak first and noting that at the first reading an overview of the Social Committee's discussion will also be heard, which will be given by the chair of the Social Committee, Madis Timpson.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The committee discussed the draft bill and the minutes, the minister answered questions, and by consensus decided to place the draft on the plenary agenda, appoint Madis Timpson as the lead committee's representative, and conclude the first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the presenter, notes that the audience has at least one question, and asks Arvo Aller to pose his question.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller raised the question of whether there have been cases in Estonia where the legal process ends and the next option would be to appeal to the United Nations, but that option does not exist because the given protocol has not been ratified and people are left without aid, and he also asked how far Latvia is from joining this optional protocol.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson said that the topic concerning Latvia wasn't addressed, jurisprudence is a bit out of touch with real life, and we often regulate things only after the problem has arisen, and the commission did not draft any new legal construct.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the participants, explains that at the first reading up to two questions may be asked of each of the two speakers, ends the question round and opens negotiations, and invites the next speaker, Helle-Moonika Helme, and asks for three minutes of additional time.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme expresses that joining the ILO convention threatens women's rights and sense of security, because it promotes the spread of trans- and LGBT ideologies and leads to cuts in tax indexation, family support and pension indexation, which would hit women the hardest.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair gives thanks, then invites colleague Reili Ranna to the Riigikogu's speaking podium to speak next, and asks for three minutes of extra time.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand urged the Riigikogu at the earliest opportunity to ratify the CEDAW Optional Protocol, emphasizing that although Estonia has already ratified the convention and fulfils its obligations, the Optional Protocol would provide an additional avenue for protecting women's rights by enabling recourse to the UN Committee, and would help address the gender pay gap, increase women's representation in leadership bodies, and reduce the level of domestic violence.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker, Lauri Hussar, closed today’s Riigikogu session and announced that the first reading of Draft Bill 583 has been completed and that the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is 3 April at 17:15, and we will meet at the start of the next working week in plenary.