THE VOICE OF THE FUTURE is the title given to a press briefing by youth delegates attending the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China on 9 September 1995. Shown here is the panel moderated by Ms. Sherrill Whittington, Youth Advisor to the Conference Secretariat. Credit: UN/DPI 090214/M. Grant.

Contributed by: Katri Tammekand, Estonia National VAW Monitor

Measures at promoting equality between women and men have formed part of the Government's action plan since 1998. The Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for Estonia's national action plan and implementation strategies for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Relevant policies administered by the Ministry include the National Program for the Adoption of the Acquis, which addresses goals for the equal treatment of men and women and information on gender inequalities in social policy. The Ministry of Social Affairs Strategic Action Plan for the period of 2000-2010 incorporates integration of the principle of gender equality into all national policies, programs and projects. The Development Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2006–2009 was approved by the Government on 26 January 2006. Also, the preparation process of the Close Relationship Violence Prevention Development Plan 2008-2011 was begun in October 2006 by a special working group, led by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

With regard to National Machinery, a Gender Equality Bureau was established within the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1996 for the promotion of gender equality in all areas and the creation of a national action plan to improve the status of women. 

To prepare for a "Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly" during its forty-ninth session, the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women sent another questionnaire (PDF) to all governments requesting information on accomplishments and obstacles to implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. The Estonian response for the questionnaire is here.