Proposal for Anti-Stalking Legislation in Estonia. ​It is proposed to introduce a law against stalking that would hold individuals criminally liable for harassing citizens and residents of Estonia. Such behavior disrupts the peace of victims and their families, causing significant psychological distress. ​According to global statistics, stalking often leads to violent outcomes, including murder. In Estonia, many people have been or are currently being stalked; however, the absence of a specific article in the legal code often results in inaction. This leaves victims waiting for further escalations, where criminal cases are only initiated once violence or homicide has already occurred. To prevent these outcomes, we need legislation now that can deter stalkers through criminal prosecution. In Estonia, there is a section in the Penal Code regarding threatening surveillance, which essentially covers the actions many countries refer to as stalking. However, it would be beneficial if these regulations were formulated in greater detail or if additional protection mechanisms were provided for victims. This should include the ability to review CCTV footage in locations where stalking incidents occurred. This would help determine if a person is genuinely stalking or if there is an attempt at defamation. It is crucial that victims of stalking are taken seriously before the situation escalates to the most dire consequences. Unfortunately, our current law on threatening surveillance is not always treated as a serious matter. This often leads to tragic outcomes, at which point a different article of the code is applied, completely ignoring the root cause—the stalking itself. Those who practice stalking must understand that it is just as serious as violence or murder, as statistics show that victims often face these ultimate consequences as a direct result of being stalked.

​Any victim who has evidence of being stalked should have the right to seek help from law enforcement. Introducing this new article will ensure that Estonia remains a progressive nation, keeping pace with other European countries, the USA, and other jurisdictions with advanced human rights protections. The United States was the first to adopt anti-stalking laws across all states starting in 1990. Other countries that have implemented such laws include the UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, Australia, Japan, and India. Furthermore, criminal liability was introduced in Kazakhstan in 2025, and special regulations come into force in Switzerland and Moldova in 2026. ​Implementing this law would be a point of pride for Estonia, demonstrating that our country does not lag behind in legal, moral, and civilized standards.