Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. what seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. - Henry Miller (American writer)

This year’s human rights programme of PÖFF is titled “Diversity Enriches”. It’s a programme which shows how everything people run away from is actually so average and normal. It’s a programme from which we can see how similar we all are in spite of our differences.

Campaign "Diversity Enriches" supports the exhibition "Pride: Solidarity - Proud of our Identity" which you can visit between the 31 of March until 14 of April in the Solaris Centre. 

The Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs will hosted in Tallinn a European Commission seminar to share good practice at national level. It focused on how to overcome the obstacles that currently exist in different EU countries when implementing public policies on combating discrimination against and promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Tallinn Law School's equal treatment project "Diversity Enriches" is organizing a conference next Wednesday June 8. This years conference focuses on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual) peoples issues and rights. 

British Council invites you to a seminar ESTONIA'S ROAD TO TOLERANCE which will take place on Thursday, 10 March at 9:45-15:00 at Radisson Blu Olümpia Hotell (Liivalaia 33) Senso Banquet Hall

The seminar looks at the development of ethnic minorities in Estonia and compares it with examples from Great Britain and the rest of Europe with some truly interesting and colorful speakers. 

The seminar will focus on the following topics: 
* Development of equal rights in Estonia
* How easy is it for a non-native to make it to the top in Estonia and in the rest of Europe?
* Access to national media and education in mother tonque for ethnic minorities both in Estonia and the rest of Europe
* Is Estonian society open towards non-Estonians?

"When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. Some say that has now been achieved. But I know that that is not the case. The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning." - Nelson Mandela

By now, the Equal Treatment Act has been in force for close to two years and the Gender Equality Act for six years. Have these acts had any impact in our everyday lives or have they remained just acts that were adopted mostly due to the pressure from the European Union that in real life have no significant effect? What is the role of the equal treatment principle in Estonian legal system? 

The first feature-length documentary made by Westerners in the Gulf state of Qatar, “Linda & Ali” gets up close and very personal with an American-born woman and her Qatari husband. Shooting over the course of three eventful years, Belgian documaker Lut Vandekeybus has fashioned a revealing look at mixed marriage inside a highly insular society. Screening of the film next Wednesday (29th of September) in Kumu dokumentaal. 

The Human Rights Centre at Tallinn University of Technology analysed in its annual report "Human Rights in Estonia 2008-2009" in detail the adoption of the Equal Treatment Act, which became in force on 1 January 2010. The following is the chapter regarding the Equal Treatment Act.

The Human Rights Centre at Tallinn University of Technology has analysed in detail the legal situation concerning same-sex parterships and marriage in Estonia. The following is a chapter from the annual report "Human Rights in Estonia 2008-2009".