Departamento encuestado: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications , EU and International Cooperation Department, EU and International Cooperation Division
¿Su gobierno ha adoptado alguna iniciativa para reducir los impactos negativos de las empresas en los derechos humanos que usted considere particularmente exitosa? Por favor indique uno o más ejemplos al respecto.
Expansion of the space that values the principles of human rights, democracy, rule of law, and advancement of international law is one of Estonia’s five priorities in foreign policy. Estonia focuses especially on protecting the rights of women, children and indigenous people, because these groups are often more vulnerable than others and are more likely to fall victim to discrimination.
Respect of human rights, both within and outside the territory of Estonia is a constitutional obligation that extends to all Estonian nationals, residents and companies operating in Estonia. Estonia takes and has taken into account the principles of human rights in development and cooperation projects and in foreign trade and export policy. Estonia applies the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights through a variety of thematic development plans and strategies.
¿Qué departamento o departamentos tienen una responsabilidad significativa respecto a las empresas y los derechos humanos dentro de su gobierno?
Estonia’s bilateral relations as well as membership in international organisations have created a wide array of possibilities for Estonia to develop and protect human rights and to address the violation of human rights. Estonia is actively involved in human rights through participation in the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe. We are traditionally active in several bodies dealing with human rights: Estonia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council (2013-15), a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (2011-15), a member of UN ECOSOC (2015-2017) and a board member of the United Nations Children's Fund (2011-13). The Estonian diplomat Tiina Intelmann is the President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court. In addition, Estonian experts are members of various forums, committees and workgroups. Estonia enforces its human rights priorities in the world via bilateral relations and development cooperation projects.
The main government office that is dealing with human rights issues in foreign policy is Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Estonia. All the other ministries contribute to the human rights coordination and positions according to their area. Concerning the business and human rights the responsible ministry is Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Department of Economic Development.
¿Su gobierno ha promovido nuevas iniciativas en el tema de empresas y derechos humanos, o ha fortalecido las ya existentes, desde la aprobación de los Principios Rectores de las Naciones Unidas en junio de 2011?
Yes
¿Su gobierno ha adoptado un Plan de Acción Nacional sobre las empresas y los derechos humanos como lo recomienda el Consejo de los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas y el Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Cuestión de los derechos humanos y las empresas transnacionales y otras empresas, o lo hará en el futuro?
Estonia does not have a national action plan of business & human rights. Promotion and protection of fundamental and human rights, included in business and labour items, are protected by the Constitution of Estonia and are an integral part of legislative drafting and law-making.
In Estonia a number of specific strategies and action plans cover the basis of business & human rights principles. For example: Estonian Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy 2014-2020; The Estonian foreign investments and export action plan for the years 2014-2017 for increasing the export capacity of Estonian companies and involving foreign investments: Made in Estonia 3.0; Digital Agenda 2020 for Estonia; Estonian Educational Strategy for 2012-2020 including HR education; Estonian Lifelong Learning Strategy 2014-2020; Estonian Anti-Corruption Strategy 2013-2020; The Strategy of Integration and Social Cohesion in Estonia to 2020 etc.
Si su gobierno ha adoptado un Plan Nacional de Acción o está planeando adoptar uno, por favor destaque si hace referencia a las normas internacionales de derechos humanos y si se adoptaron bajo consulta con las partes interesadas y afectadas.
¿Qué pasos se han dado para desarrollar nuevos mecanismos de reparación judiciales o administrativos o para limitar los obstáculos que presentan actualmente los mecanismos de reparación para las víctimas?
National Action plan for corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been created by Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications together with several partners, both from public and private sector. Action Plan can be found from here (unfortunately in Estonian): [link]
The main focus of the action plan is on awareness raising activities. As part of this, awareness of business and human rights is tackled. Various expert group meetings took place during the process, including representatives from corporate sector, different ministries, leading universities and non-profit sector. Responsible Business Forum in Estonia (website: [link] )was involved into the policy creation process as one of the leading expert partners. The strategy aims to increase the awareness among businesses, investors, consumers, public sector, media and other stakeholders (public communication, sharing good case practices, involving into study programs, training companies and other stakeholders); and to encourage responsible behaviour among companies through developing national recognition and certification system.
¿Qué pasos se han dado para desarrollar mecanismos extrajudiciales, mejorar los mecanismos actuales, y reducir los obstáculos para las víctimas?
National contact point has been created and is coordinated by the Minstry of Economic Affiars and Communications in Estonia.
Para las empresas que tengan casa matriz en su país o sus subsidiarias ¿su gobierno ha dado pasos para mejorar la rendición de cuentas sobre el impacto en derechos humanos en el exterior?
Question does not apply.
Indique hasta qué punto cada uno de los siguientes factores le impide a su gobierno emprender acciones en temas de empresas y derechos humanos.
Most important factor is:
- Challenges of coordinating across government departments
Significant factors are:
- Lack of resources for enforcement, monitoring and prosecution
- Lack of understanding or awareness of business & human rights in government
Minor factors are:
- Opposition or lack of consensus within government
- Opposition by economic interest groups or business associations
- Other opposition by influential people or groups outside government
- Political limitations imposed by foreign governments or multilateral institutions
- Concern about deterring foreign investments
¿Qué tipo de apoyo, si lo hay, su gobierno acogería con agrado como apoyo a sus acciones para mejorar el impacto que tienen las empresas sobre los derechos humanos?
Our government would consider the most helpful capacity-building and trainings in order to improve companies’ impacts on human rights.
Por favor, comparta con nosotros cualquier comentario adicional, incluyendo ideas sobre formas de colaboración futuras y aprendizaje compartido para promover el tema de las empresas y los derechos humanos.
Estonia is co-sponsor of UN HRC resolution 26/22 Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.