Eesti in brief - 2007-04-18

  • 2007-04-18
The number of new HIV cases in Estonia has remained high over the past three years, and its spread may now have extended into the general community. Experts from the government and interest groups met at the Ministry of Social Affairs on April 12 for an overview of the current state of the HIV epidemic. According to recent figures, the number of new HIV cases continued to increase in 2006. More than half of the new cases of HIV infections last year were transmitted sexually. The situation is especially serious in Ida-Viru county, where there are grounds to believe that the epidemic has spread into the general community. Ida-Viru was identified as a priority area for prevention strategies during 2007 and 2008.

People working with children will soon be subject to background checks as part of a draft law prepared by the Justice Ministry. Under the system, people working in schools and other institutions will first be checked against Estonia's register for convicted sex offenders. The law would also open up public access to the list, allowing parents access to the register to check on nannies or sports coaches, the Ministry said. Any institution found to have employed a convicted sex offender also faces a fine of up to 50,000 kroons under the new provision.

A British Embassy officer has filed a complaint after being assaulted outside a Tallinn nightclub. Police said the 39-year-old British national, identified only as "James," was attacked at about 7 a.m. after a night of drinking. Police said the consul officer was "inebriated" when he got involved in an argument with an unidentified man. According to his initial statement, the officer was punched first in the shoulder and then when he asked for an explanation, was punched in the face. He did not require medical attention for his injuries. Police said they have launched an investigation into the matter. A spokesman for the British Embassy confirmed that there was an "event" involving an employee, but declined to comment further.