Human Trafficking in [Estonia] [other countries]
Street Children in [Estonia] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Estonia] [other countries]
 

Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children

Republic of Estonia [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Republic of Estonia [map] borders on the Baltic Sea (W); the gulf of Riga (SW), the gulf of Finland (N); Latvia (S); and Russia (E). Tallinn is its capital and largest city. Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Estonia. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Estonia), and Years Missing

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR - The government has developed a National Strategy for Child Protection through the year 2008 that includes a national social welfare program for children and their families who need social care and educational support for at-risk children. Children considered most at-risk are street children.

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - In 1999, an estimated 100 to 200 children were homeless and living on the streets in Estonia.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN - The government was committed to children's rights and welfare. Under the law, school attendance is mandatory and free from the age of 7 until students complete basic education, generally nine years total or until they reach 17 years of age. Approximately 98.7 percent of school-age children attended school.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2003

[44] The Committee is concerned at the increasing number of street children and at the lack of a systematic comprehensive strategy to address this situation and to provide these children with adequate assistance.

Committee On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights - Meeting

32. Ms. MALVET (Estonia) said that Estonia had no clear definition of "street children" and therefore no precise statistics. If the term meant children without a home or family, there were between 100 and 200. If it meant children who spent their time in the street even though they had a home and family, there were perhaps 500.

65. The Committee had information that there might be as many as 10,000 street children in Estonia, which among other things, meant that they were effectively deprived of their right to education.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – Conclusions & Recommendations

20. The Committee is also concerned about the extent of the problem of street children in Estonia.

21. The Committee is further concerned that the law allows the work of children between 13 and 15 with the written consent of one parent or a guardian and the labor inspector, and that the list of permissible work includes that of an industrial nature.

Estonia

OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPING PROSTITUTION AND SEXUAL BUSINESS IN ESTONIA SINCE 1991, ESTIMATION OF THE NUMBER OF SEX WORKERS - Adolescent street children offer sexual services mostly for foreign tourists in area of harbor and big supermarkets.

Work With The Street Children Done By Center Of Pastoral Care

The aim of the is to help them by offering them the services of the Daily Care Center, the night shelter and Christian Children Home, thus avoiding them remaining in the streets and at the same time integrating them into the society.

NGO "Owl", That Is Working With Street Children And Children At Risk

The target group is children under 18 of age who have lost their home, family or safe living environment.

Consortium for Street Children

There are still problems for street children in Estonia today, but overall conditions have greatly improved.

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Human Trafficking in [Estonia] [other countries]
Street Children in [Estonia] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Estonia] [other countries]