The Estonian Institute for Human Rights is the oldest nongovernmentalorganisation in Estonia dealing with human rights, and has the longest record of activities in this area. It was founded on the international Human Rights Day, 10 December 1992. The initiator of the Institute and its first patron was President of Estonia Lennart Meri. During the nearly twenty years of existence of the Institute, a number of well known and reputed persons have participated in its activities.

Human rights are everyone’s inherent entitlements, independent of race, sex or religion. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; everyone of them has the same rights and liberties as well as responsibilities.

According to its new Statutes adopted on 4th of August 2011, the Estonian Institute for Human Rights has started extending its activities. It will increase its efforts in the areas of public awareness raising, holding events on human rights, publication of educational materials and cooperation with human rights organisations. Cooperation at home as well as internationally is essential to the Institute. On the horizon there are also other issues closely related to human rights: security, the Internet, various questions regarding social and living standards. One of the most important areas of the Institute’s activity has always been training and consulting people in human rights issues.

The Institute keeps an eye on the situation in human rights in Estonia and worldwide in various spheres, and makes its contribution when necessary to elucidate these rights and prevent their violation.

Currently an important objective for the Institute is organising and hosting an international human rights conference on the Human Rights Day. We expect the participation of our cooperation partners, representatives of governmental institutions and foreign guests, as well as all others who are inspired to advocate for human rights by their inborn sense of justice.