Among those forcibly disappeared were DISCRIMINATION Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak, Berhane The legislative framework did not include Abrehe, a former finance minister who religion/belief, age, sexuality, sexual published a book criticizing the president in orientation or gender identity as grounds for 2018, and Ciham Ali. An Eritrean/US discrimination, other than in the context of national, Ciham Ali was arrested in December employment, resulting in gaps in protection 2012 at the Sudan border as she tried to flee in relation to housing, healthcare, social Eritrea when she was 15. Shortly before the welfare, education and claiming damages. authorities took her, her father, then a RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES minister of information in the Eritrean government, had gone into exile. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons FORCED LABOUR with Disabilities identified gaps in the rights of people with disabilities including access to The government continued to conscript high- justice, education, healthcare and sexual and school students to the mandatory national reproductive rights, in particular for women service programme. Conscripts were forced and girls, and noted the disproportionate to serve for indefinite periods and beyond the impact of the pandemic on people with legal limit of 18 months. Thousands of disabilities. individuals remained in indefinite conscription, sometimes having served for 10 WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ RIGHTS years or more. The definition of rape still failed to comply RIGHT TO HEALTH with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against The government response to Covid-19 was women and domestic violence (Istanbul inadequate and there was no vaccination Convention), being based on violence, with programme in place by the end of the year. other non-consensual sexual acts carrying less weight. Women applying for restraining orders had to face the alleged perpetrator in ESTONIA the courtroom. Domestic violence was not always considered in custody proceedings. Republic of Estonia Estonia had the highest gender pay gap in Head of state: Alar Karis (replaced Kersti Kaljulaid in the EU. October) Head of government: Kaja Kallas (replaced Jüri Ratas REFUGEES’ AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS in January) Deficiencies were reported in the procedures followed by the PGBG when assessing There continued to be no legal bar on asylum claims. In some cases, they discrimination on grounds of religion, age, reportedly refused to accept applications and sexual orientation or gender identity. Gaps tried to persuade asylum seekers to return to remained in the rights of people with their country of origin. The Estonian Human disabilities, as well as the protection of Rights Centre (EHRC) noted the frequent women from violence. Police and Border reversal of PGBG decisions by the courts. Guards Board (PGBG) did not follow due process when assessing asylum claims. LGBTI PEOPLE’S RIGHTS Same-sex couples still struggled to enforce An EHRC survey documented a significant their rights under the Registered shift in attitudes towards LGBTI people, with Partnership Act 2016. 64% of the population supporting the Registered Partnership Act 2016 allowing same-sex couples to register. By the end of the year, however, the Act had still not been Amnesty International Report 2021/22 161