government: parliamentary republic
state of civil and political rights: Free
constitution: 28 June 1992
legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
legislative system: unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu)
judicial system: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament for life
religion: Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7%
death row:
year of last executions: 0-0-0
death sentences: 0
executions: 0
international treaties on human rights and the death penalty:International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1st Optional Protocol to the Covenant
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
6th Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (concerning the abolition of the death penalty)
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances (signed only)
Statute of the International Criminal Court (which excludes the death penalty)
situation:
Estonia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on May 13, 1998. In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament had adopted an amendment to the criminal code introducing life imprisonment as an alternative to the death sentence. In 1998, following abolition, the sentences of the eight prisoners on death row were commuted to life imprisonment.
On January 30, 2004, Estonia ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty).
On February 25, 2004 Estonia deposited with the Council of Europe the instrument of ratification of Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances. The last time capital punishment was carried out in Estonia was in 1991.
On December 19, 2016, as in previous years, Estonia co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.
