Country

Estonia

Detention issue

Women in detention

FRA research findings

View details

Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Imprisonment Act (Vangistusseadus)Female and male detainees are segregated. Prisons provide separate premises fitted out for women prisoners who are pregnant, and organise care for children. A mother and her child of up three years of age (inclusive) are allowed to live together at the request of the mother, if the guardianship authority consents. The prison service shall ensure that the ties of a mother with her child over three of age are sustained unless this disturbs the normal raising of the child or has a negative influence on the child.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2020In 2020, the advisers of the Chancellor of Justice (Õiguskantsler) visited the department of mothers and children of Tallinn Prison. At the time of the visit, the department held one mother with a one year and three months old child. The Chancellor of Justice made the following recommendations: The department's play corner should be adapted to be safer, more comfortable and more developmental. Going out should be made easier. Officials and staff must always put the interests of the children in the department first. The detention of a mother in the ward has, due to circumstances, become essentially similar to solitary confinement. The prison must create more meaningful communication opportunities for the mother. The mother should have equal opportunities with other women to participate in social programmes and hobby and leisure activities (e.g. use of a gym, supervised training, participation in arts and crafts circles, etc.). For that time, the mother must be able to leave the child with a suitable person. Report details