How Estonia is changing its approach to sexual violence

In April 2026, Feministeerium’s advocacy specialist Elise Rohtmets gave an interview on the Estonian Consent Act for the Lithuanian human rights portal manoteises.lt. Here is a shorter version of the interview.

In recent years, the topic of sexual violence has been at the centre of public debate in Estonia. This did not happen by chance – it is the result of public pressure and, at the same time, the painful cases of violence that have shaken the country. We talk to Elise Rohtmets, an advocacy specialist and philosophy lecturer at the Estonian women’s NGO Feministeerium, about what is changing and what Lithuania could learn from Estonia. Rohtmets actively contributed to the creation of a definition of sexual violence that is currently being discussed in the Estonian Parliament, which would be based on the absence of clearly expressed consent.

A problem that has long been invisible

“Sexual violence is a very hidden form of violence,” says Rohtmets.

According to the 2024 Estonian Women’s Health Survey, one in three women aged 18–59 has experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Nine per cent of women aged 18–74 reported experiencing sexual violence from an intimate partner.

An even more pronounced trend is seen in recent years’ data – over the past decade, the proportion of women who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime has increased from 24 to 35 per cent.

However, these numbers do not necessarily mean that violence is increasing. According to Rohtmets, it may also indicate changes in society: “What was considered normal 50 or 60 years ago is now identified as violence.” In other words, the problem is finally becoming visible.

Tipping point: public pressure and high-profile cases

The biggest changes in Estonia have occurred in the past four years. One reason is the active campaign for a law on explicit consent for sexual relations, but no less important have been the high-profile cases of sexual and intimate partner violence that have caused public outrage.

“We had several major cases where people reacted very strongly to how the courts and the prosecutor’s office treated the victims,” says Rohtmets.

One particularly painful case revealed systemic gaps – a man had been violent towards his partner for a long time, the institutions did not take action, and the situation ended in tragedy with two people dead. Such events prompted not only public debate, but also political decisions – a special working group was established in the Estonian Parliament to address systemic problems related to the regulation of sexual violence.

Laws are changing – but are they changing fast enough?

Estonia is currently undergoing an active phase of reforms. One significant change is that officers arriving at the scene of a crime can now ban the perpetrator from returning home for up to 72 hours (previously only 12 hours).

However, the most important change is yet to come – a definition of rape based on the absence of clearly expressed consent.

“Currently, the system is still focused on whether the victim was helpless, not on whether there was an expressed will for sexual relations,” Rohtmets emphasises.

According to her, this is what leads to problematic court decisions and the re-traumatisation of victims.

Victim assistance and system challenges

Estonian hospitals have sexual assault centres (SACs). They provide emergency psychological and medical support to victims of sexual violence. The centres also help to gather evidence if victims decide to contact the police, but the authorities are never informed without their consent.

However, most victims do not contact the police. “There is a widespread belief that reporting violence is pointless,” explains Rohtmets.

Sexual violence is difficult to prove; people fear that their testimony will not be considered sufficient, as there are often only two people present at the time of the incident – the victim and the perpetrator. In addition, institutions lack resources and cases are often selected based on their “likelihood of success”.

Another problem is unprofessional communication. According to Rohtmets, insufficiently trained professionals can cause significant damage with their words alone.

She points out that the system often breaks down due to slow investigations, lack of communication with victims, lack of coordination between institutions, and outdated legal approaches. All of this creates a situation where victims not only fail to receive justice, but also suffer additional harm.

Sexual education is another critical area

Education must also keep up with reality and talk openly about behavioural trends, risks, and safety. Modern sexual education is not only about knowledge of the body or reproduction, but also the ability to understand clearly expressed will, boundaries, safety, and risky behaviour, the interviewee is convinced.

Research shows that children themselves want more information about sexual violence – how to recognise it and how to prevent it.

However, in reality the situation in Estonia is uneven: in some schools, sexual education is strong, in others it is almost non-existent.

“The fact that there are still young people who have never received sexual education is a shocking fact,” says Rohtmets.

What works: Estonia’s strengths

Despite the problems, Estonia already has strong solutions that Lithuania could learn from. One of the most important is the sexual assault centres, which allow victims to receive help quickly, safely, and professionally.

There is also a 24-hour helpline for victims, behaviour modification programmes for perpetrators, forced marriage and female genital mutilation are criminalised, and sexual harassment is considered an administrative offence.

In addition, large-scale education and awareness campaigns are being carried out. Another interesting initiative is working with the nightlife sector. The state, together with experts, organised training for bar and club employees on how to recognise and stop sexual harassment.

“I saw a real desire to change the situation,” says Rohtmets. “Many alternative clubs today already have clear internal rules on how to respond.”

The original interview was published in https://manoteises.lt/straipsnis/kaip-estija-keicia-savo-poziuri-i-seksualini-smurta-pamoka-lietuvai/# .