INDEPENDENT REPORT

of RUSSIAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly

in 2001 on Follow-up of the World Summit for Children

(New York, September, 19-21, 2001)

 

GENERAL EVALUATION of the state of the CHILDHOOD And FAMILY In RUSSIA

 

We, representatives of the public organizations of Russia,

with enthusiasm sharing the main statements of the World declaration on survival, protection and development of children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s;

agreeing with that “Progress for children should be a key goal of overall national development”, that it is necessary “to be guided by the principle of a “first call for children”;

recognizing, that “There is no cause which merits a higher priority than the protection and development of children, on whom the survival, stability and advancement of all nations - and, indeed, of human civilization – depends”, that “There can be no task nobler than giving every child a better future”;

taking into account, that Russia has signed and ratified all the appropriate international agreements and conventions;

doing our best to put these high declarations into life;

have united the efforts of our organizations for preparing the Independent report for its presentation at the Special session of the General Assembly of the UN, devoted to the World Summit for children, to express our agreed position.

We prepared the Independent report, completely realizing that we had limited resources and a high level of our social responsibility, concerning this initiative.

There is no network of statistical, academic and departmental institutes at our disposal. We do not possess such significant financial means as are possessed by the state. But we have our professional and civil conscience which has made us do this work. We were inspired by the possibility, basing on the attention of the international community, to address from a high tribune of the UN to the citizens of Russia and to show them, though incomplete, but a real picture, undistorted by departmental interests, of children's life in our country.

What is our position based on? It is based not only and not so much on the statistics, but on the personal testimonies of concrete people. It is based on our own activities and on our opinion - on the opinion of those people who have devoted their lives to helping children. In the attachment there is a brief description of the organizations participating in the preparation of the Independent report.

The public organizations, which we represent, have accumulated a lot of practical experience in work with children for their interests. Taking it into account, we try not only to criticize the National report, making an impression of imaginary well-being and progress, but also to put forward our argued proposals of possible reasonable steps that should be taken for interests of children.

We specify those real positive phenomena which, nevertheless, occured in the last decade, mainly in spite of, and not in connection with the state policy in the field of childhood. Though we can only note a very insignificant progress in some areas of protection of children's rights, nevertheless, positive is already the fact that Russian officials take great efforts to correspond the principles approved by the civilized world in their activities at least outwardly.

We are far from reproving somebody personally of unkind intentions. We understand that there cannot be a great success in the sphere of childhood, if the most fundamental problems of public life of Russia remain unsolved.

But it is especially important to have a clear understanding of the situation to make both state and public organizations function adequately to the problems, facing them. Eventually, meeting real needs of children's lives should be the contents of the activities of the both. Otherwise, those activities are deprived of any positive social sense.

On the whole, the events of the last ten years in Russia have brought the problems which children and their parents were not aware of in the USSR, and those problems have been poured on them. Unfortunately, the Russian Government largely self-separated from the help to the child and his/her family in that crisis time. The main thing that the child and his/her family are deprived of is the state system of protection and real support of their interests. Though such a system in the USSR was of a paternal character, the majority of children did not drop out neither of the system of healthcare, nor from the system of educational and social support. At the same time it should be emphasized that parents' dependence on the state and simultaneous absence of any system of maintenance and protection of main rights of the child now lead to a complete celebration of children's deprivation of rights.

In the developed countries Civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) mainly take on their shoulders the protection of childhood. In Russia the organizations of the third sector can not rise and become an active efficacy without support from the state, being interested in them. Therefore real activities in the interests of Russian children - devotion of separate people and organizations - is sooner an exception than a rule.

It is not enough to say that the organizations of the third sector, having got such a good reputation in developed democratic countries for their ability to find solutions for main social problems, in Russia are deprived of efficient and systematic state support. Paternal dependence of parents does not allow them to be partners of full value in work with their own children, too. Many of parents have a consumer-like attitude to NGOs as well to state ones, and it is impossible to change life of the child without active co-operation with his/her family.

If in the times of the USSR the slogan “let all the best be for children!” not only possessed the mass consciousness, but it was realized in some fields, in today's Russia the indifference of public opinion to the problems of children's lives is predetermined by mass poverty and hopelessness of existence of the adults.

Significant destructions of the last decade in the lives of the adults have caused even heavier consequences for children.

In babyhood (and even earlier) the child faces already the situation when he/she can not use the things that have always been the most reliable basis of his/her life - maternal resources - without threat to his/her health and life. In cities regular stresses and ecological unreasonable behavior undermine women's health before pregnancy, make poisoned even mother's milk. As a result, the majority of babies are born already ill or prepossessed to obtaining various complexes of chronic diseases hereafter.

For most of the families who wish to have a baby this start is a beyond their strength problem. Grandparents who have got used to the situation when their children were taken care of by a local Pediatrician of the Soviet time have no everyday experience of their ancestors, so necessary for them today, and parents often are not capable to realize the very existence of fundamental problems of their children, concerning their life activities .

The state system of preschool and school education makes its own contribution and as a result, to the moment of leaving school only 14%[1] of the school-children can be recognized completely healthy. But our acquisition of the last period - children's drug addiction, taking the character of an epidemic, - is quite capable to make worse this figure as well.

The situation in the Russian countryside areas is not better as their people have not been able to be a source of moral and physical health of the Russian population for a long time because of a number of well-known spiritual, political and economic reasons. A new terrible trouble of drug addiction has also been added there to the traditional alcoholism. And the village residents are even less defended of narcotic Maphia than urban ones.

The situation is unfavorable as far as public comprehension of family and children's problems are concerned. The active population is compelled, first of all, to take care of survival. Solution of the most vital problems by children and by weak people in general remains on the periphery of public attention.

Naturally, politicians, following political conjuncture, do not tend to pay attention to these issues, adequate to their significance.

It is necessary for the state as well as for public organizations to pick up every crumbs that is vital and perspective, in every possible way to propagandize the achievements of those devotees who try to reestablish our Civil society with their concrete actions not only without any assistance, but also contrary to the corrupt state machine. To our regret, in Russia there are a few people who are deeply and seriously worried about the childhood and family needs. Following the active citizens and rather a small number of initiative public organizations, the political association “Yabloko” has paid serious attention to this major sphere of social life.

The functioning state institutions called to respond these needs work mainly in the old, distributive, Soviet logic (permits and other privileges), instead of encouraging the citizen's initiatives to solve the most urgent problems of social life. The corporate interests of the state machine were and remain dominating. Therefore institutions which are not connected with the individual as with the future tax-payer function on a residual principle. So far, it has not been realized by the State in its form of various Institutions of power and Government that only building of the developed civil democratic community enables to solve the main interpersonal contradictions, because only those people who are real masters of their lives, are capable to do it.

It is the population of Russia which perceives very well the results of the policy, mainly oriented on the interests of the state machine.

In absence of democratic traditions and developed civil society in Russia strengthening family relations becomes especially meaningful. Therefore we consider the idea from the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration that “for the full and harmonious development of their personality, children should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding” as the statement of great importance.

All the socially meaningful contradictions of human life appear in the family interrelations and they have an opportunity to be solved there on a qualitatively different level than the level of the state. Mutual love and support of the family members make the family a unique social institute, when any problem is solved from the point of view of the maximum consideration of dignity and interests of the opposite side. The harmonic family relations allow to solve the “eternal” contradictions between violence and freedom, egoism and altruism, spiritual and material, life and death, the old and the new etc. Only having learned to love of at home, an individual becomes a personality capable to include in the sphere of his/her cares the interests of civil society, i.e. to finish his/her positive socialization.

In today's Russia the family and family relations are exposed to a special danger. The problems of the majority of modern Russian families are well known: low wealth, poor housing and every day conditions, unemployment, few children in families, ill-treatment of children, disharmony of interpersonal relations, absence of mutual respect, alcoholism. The family, deprived of the state paternal guardianship and the rigid state control, has not found self-valued and self-sufficient, while the state, promoting its policy to destruction of the family, its degradation, with persistence, worthy for a better application, tries to save its paternal position, continues to consider the family as an object of management, enforcement, charity-giving, repression. And so long as the Russian family does not become an equal subject of social life, till parents find the effective rights and real possibilities to bring up and educate healthy children in an atmosphere of love and prosperity, - until then the family will not become really responsible before its members and community for well-being of children, growing in it. But it is possible only in conditions, when the family is realized by the state as an equal partner in their interrelations and state and public institutes - called to serve the family, instead of governing it. Thus, the principle of subsidiarity is realized, and it is impossible to build democratic society without Its sequential realization.

 

Having stated our common vision of the state of childhood and family in Russia, we believe it is necessary to confirm our view by giving exact data which are based both on the official sources and on the documents from the representatives of the NGOs that have taken part in the preparation of this Independent report. Not to repeat the official National report, we have found it to by most expedient to consider it critically and to comment on the statements and facts, contained in it.

 

COMMENTS AND ADDITIONS

on the NATIONAL REPORT

ON THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

IN IMPLEMENTING OF THE GOALS OF THE WORLD DECLARATION

AND PLAN OF ACTION OF THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR CHILDREN

 

1. Common evaluation of the National Report.

Concerning the form of the Report: as it should summarize the 10-year's activities of the state on implementation of the World declaration and the Plan of action (1990), it would be logical to follow those points, which are reflected in the indicated Plan of action; then it would be obvious enough how well the state was able to implement the Plan which it in due course had signed (in particular, then it should be admitted that for 10 years in Russia infant mortality rate has reduced by 1/10 instead of 1/3, maternity mortality rate - by 7% instead of 50% proposed by the Plan, etc. etc.). However, the Report is built in the form of enumeration of governmental actions, and it is indicated nowhere to what degree it was possible to implement the Plan of Action, the reasons why these or those goals of the Plan were not achieved have not been analyzed, there are no concrete proposals of how those reasons should be overcome. Thus, even the structure of the Report shows clearly enough a desire of its authors to demonstrate the efforts of the Government and, whenever it is possible, to hide poor efficiency or even negative results of these efforts.

 

2. Lack of real mechanisms of children's protection.

In introduction the statement about construction of a new statehood on the basis “of respect for human rights” (paragraph 2) evokes a categorical objection, as for the past 10 years it has been done really nothing by the state for “respect for rights” of children - the most deprived of rights part of the Russian population. It is enough to give an example of ignoring the urgent and numerous recommendations of the UN Committee on the rights of the child about the necessity of introduction of juvenile justice in Russia, ignoring despite of numerous assurances from the Government of implementation of these recommendations. No really functioning mechanisms of control on observance of children's rights have been created; the experiment of the regional children's rights Commissioners has remained to be only a local experiment, as it is not provided neither with a legislative, nor organization and methodical basis.

 

3. Lack of state preventive work.

The statement about the state's opposition to “new risks facing children - homelessness growing social orphanhood, the spread of narcotics and violence against children” (Introduction, paragraph 3), does not correspond to reality, as the state resists not to risks, but to the results of policy, namely risks, i.e. preventive work dealing with neglected children, social orphanhood, drug addiction in children's environment, violence against children is not really implemented by any state program; the separated efforts of various departments have not affected the negative dynamics of the state of childhood and family.

 

4. Lack of co-operation with Civil Society.

The staff of the coordinating Commission on the work relating the implementation in the Russian Federation of the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child and the World declaration on the survival, protection and development of children (section A., paragraph 5) clearly demonstrates, that till present time the state has not got rid of the illusion that the problems of childhood in Russia may be solved by ignoring institutes of civil society(there is only one representative of public organizations in the staff of the Commission, there aren't any representatives of political and religious organizations).

 

5. Inadequacy of National Statistics.

The Annual National Report on the Position of Children in the Russian Federation (section A., paragraph 6) is definitely a good source of information, however, much of important information isn't given in it. For example, the statistics of children's suicides which was given only in two National reports (1992 and 1996). There is no information of children's morbidity and death rate in homes for invalids, of an number of children of school age who are not visiting educational Institutions, who don't have any residence who are exposed to violence in the family and in departments of internal affairs etc.

 

6. Non-implementation of the National Plan of Action.

As the National Plan of Action is concerned (section A., paragraph 8-12), nothing has been said about how well it has been implemented, there is no analysis of the reasons which prevented to achieve these or those goals of the Plan, there are no concrete proposals for overcoming of these reasons. While the significant part of the figures, appearing in the report, testifies that the majority of the goals of the Plan, is not achieved. Besides, this document can be found neither on the Internet, nor in legal databases or in libraries, it is not known in children's Institutions and public organizations.

 

7. Ignoring the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the rights of the child by the Government.

It is necessary to note that during the 2 years, past after the consideration of the Second periodic report of the Russian Federation in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (section A., paragraph 15-16), it is possible to indicate a certain progress in implementation no more than 3 of the recommendations of the Committee from 68 ones; others have been actually ignored till nowadays. Once again we shall emphasize that ignoring the recommendations of the Committee about introduction in Russia of juvenile justice is the most unacceptable in this respect, though in 1993, after submission of the Initial report of the Russian Federation to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Government of the Russian Federation has undertaken the appropriate obligation. Nevertheless, in 2000 Mr. Christenko, Deputy Prime-Minister of the Russian Government, has given the negative answer to the administration bill which is offered to enter into the National judicial system the very concept of juvenile courts.

 

8. Inefficiency of the end of decade review procedure.

As to “the end of decade review procedure” (section B.), the style of the Report is demonstrated here in its clearest way. The essence that is absence of an effective review procedure which would allow the Russian public to receive objective data of full value and access about the achieved results is covered behind the enumeration of various initiatives and actions. A good illustration of it is the fact that “The Commission on the Coordination of Work Relating to the Implementation in the Russian Federation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children forwarded the Concluding Remarks of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to federal ministries and agencies and to member entities of the Russian Federation for information and for appropriate action to be taken”, but these Remarks for informing those who are first of all interested in the results of implementation of these recommendations - for Russian families and children as well as for numerous NGOs, dealing with the issues of childhood- were not widely spread in publications.

On the other hand, now practically all public organizations, working with children, feel being blocked by mass media (especially by National TV-channels), interested only in getting profit. For a short film, demonstrating positive, socially meaningful activities of children and youth, the bills from $ 30000 and above are given. The majority of the actions which were conducted during the year of the decade of the approval of the UN Convention on the rights of the child (especially the All-Russia conference in December, 1999), turned to scientific conferences of a narrow circle of experts. The documents, approved on them, (appeals, declarations etc.) were not published to inform the wide public community and have not affected on the presidential and governmental policy, concerning childhood and family.

 

9. Failure in solving the strategic tasks on childhood protection.

It should be said with great responsibility that during the last decade none of the strategic tasks on childhood protection, mentioned in the report (section C., paragraph 2), was not solved even partly:

- In conditions of increasing commercialization of the systems of education and public healthcare both obvious and latent it should not be said about unobstructed access to them of children from families with low income, especially of children from families of disabled parents; for children with expressed mental and psycho-emotional disorders of development this problem has not begun to be decided at all. So far, there have not appeared any kinder gardens, any schools, accepting such children in the state system, the experts are still trained so that they do not know how to work with such children. Even if this child is prepared for further learning by a non-governmental rehabilitation center and if there is an arrangement on his/her learning at a concrete specialized school, the Medical-Psychological-Pedagogical commission (MPPC) all the same does not give him/her a direction to that school, and the school can not accept the child without such a direction. Surprisingly that the members of the MPPC try to test the level of development and learning capability of the children, having psycho-emotional problems, in unfamiliar, intense, not always kindly atmosphere. The attempt to clarify educational potential of the autistic child in such atmosphere may be explained only by professional insolvency or by lack of ethical conscientiousness of the members of the commission. In a number of cases instead of sending the child to learn and searching for a concrete educational Institution for him/her, the MPPC members actively encourage the parents to send the problem child to a boarding school for handicaped children. Thereby are infringed:

the Convention on Combat Discrimination in Education (is accepted by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1960), article 1.1, а); the Declaration on the Rights of the Mentally Retarded, from December 20, 1971, articles 1, 2; the Declaration on the Rights of the Disabled, from December 9, 1975, articles 2, 3, 4, 6, 10; the Convention on the Rights of the Child, from November 20, 1989., article 23, item 3, articles 28, 29; the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children, from September 30, 1990; the Standard Rules of Equal Possibilities for the Disabled, are accepted by the United Nations general Assembly on December 20, 1993 (resolution 48/96), Rule 6; the Constitution of the Russian Federation (article 43, item 1,2), the norms of the Law of the Russian Federation on Education (article 5, item 6; article 18, item 2; article 40, item 8; article 50, item 10; article 52, item 10, etc.);

- Declared priority attention to the problems of the children - orphans, children who have lost parental care, in reality turns out to be more and more increasing number of such children at the lack of the system for prevention of social orphanhood and for social adaptation of the graduates of these institutions;

- None of the effective preventive mechanisms Is created for neglected children , drug addiction, violence against children; all the actions in this regard are limited by narrow departmental efforts in the absence of the nation-wide really functioning program. One of the main conditions, created by the Government, which makes a great obstacle for effective preventive measures is the cancellation of tax privileges at municipal, regional and all-Russian levels to children's public organizations. And it has became an evidence of purposeful destruction of children's and youth social initiative. The presentation by tax services of equal requirements both to commercial and to public organizations considerably hinders the activity of the last. The absurdity of a modern legislative base results that, for example, children's public organization is demanded to pay the taxes from the work of volunteers who only get some compensation for their travelling and other current expenses. Declared in the Russian legislation “state support” of activity of children's and charitable public associations is, at best, expressed by the single minimum target grants, where the article “wages” is prohibited in its budget. children's organizations have no means to pay even for work of the accountant, that aggravates even more their relations with tax services;

- The legislation on of the rights of children is mainly of a declarative character, and in some aspects results in aggravation of the position of the groups of the children's population which are at the most risk. Declaring the legislative maintenance of the rights, according to the Russian tradition, does not guarantee its practical performance. For example, at the complete absence of the infrastructure of help to children with severe disorders of mental and speech development, only few decrees were accepted with the aim to compensate its absence by financial reimbursement of parents' expenses for necessary services in education and rehabilitation of the child. All these decrees really do not work, and the parents turn out to be completely in power of the officers whose responsibility is to decide “to give or not to give” the allowance. The parents are exposed to humiliations, are compelled (frequently together with their disabled child) for months to go round various establishments, to stand in long queues, trying to get absolutely unnecessary papers, demanded by the officers for it. And quite often parents stop making efforts for obtaining compensations, fixed to them by the law. The situation of getting social privileges and benefits is not much better. (According to of the research made in St.-Petersburg, 47% of families who have the right to housing indemnification could not collect the documents for it.)

Another typical situation: children, born by people living in psycho-neurological houses for invalids (PNHI), have no possibility to live with their parents, since in the adults PNHI it is not permitted to keep children and there are not any establishments where disabled parents could live together with their children in Russia. In the Russian system of social protection is not stipulated the situation when an person, living in a home for invalids, puts family or bears a baby. Therefore, the administration of this homes by suasion and threats forces the pregnant women to sign the agreement to an abortion, she can be ill-treated as well. For example, living in a PNHI Lyuba Mozhaeva the Chief Doctor of the PNHI forced to agree to an abortion at the term of pregnancy 6,5 months. The abortion managed to be avoided only because the situation has received wide publicity and the public organizations have interfered with it. And another girl from the same home was made an abortion at a large term of pregnancy, and it was impossible to save the baby since she did not have any communication with the outer world. If, nevertheless, the woman, living in a

PNHI has a newborn and she does not want to part with it and there are no relatives who agree to take it, on the mother is strongly pressed, persuading to refuse of the baby. So, the maternity house's lawyer persuaded Lyuba Mozhaeva of leaving the baby in the maternity house. Usually, in the cases when it is impossible to avoid the birth of a baby, no registration documents, confirming mother's rights to her parenthood are made and the baby is taken from the mother for ever.

 

10. Small efficiency of social establishments for the child and his/her family.

It is doubtless, that creation and development of the network of social establishments for help to the family and children is of great importance (section C., paragraph 6). But it should be admitted that till present time their efficiency is insignificant because of a lot of reasons, first of all, insufficient professional personnel maintenance, and also absence of effective mechanisms of interaction with establishments of other departments - of education, healthcare services, with bodies of trusteeship and guardianship. Unfortunately, the main kind of activities of the majority of social establishments remains only distribution of those or other kinds of material support and humanitarian help. Till now there are no such state rehabilitation centers for children and adolescents with the limited abilities, where the child with expressed disorders of development could receive an effective complex help. Therefore in few non-governmental establishments, giving such help, long waiting lists of hundreds of children are drawn up; children have to wait for their turn to be received for months and years. We do not know, how many state rehabilitation centers actually exists , and we do not know what they are doing, but we see that they do not execute their functions at all in regard to children with expressed disorders of development.

 

11. Small efficiency of the Presidential Program “Children of Russia”.

As to the presidential program “Children of Russia” (section C., paragraph 8), till 1998 inclusively financing of all targeted programs which have been included into this program was provided at best no more than with 50%. According to it, implementation of the scheduled plan was out of the question. The figures of financing of various targeted programs on protection of the rights of childhood do not give the ground for reliance that these means will be effectively spent, as till now at a legislative level (and in practice, naturally, as well) there are no mechanisms of transparent and competitive expending of the social funds. The appropriate administration bill (on the State Social Order), prepared by the representatives of NGOs and introduced to consideration of State Duma of the Federal Council of the Russian Federation, was rejected during the first reading in the beginning of 2000. Even during the approval of new programs, continuing the Presidential program “Children of Russia”, the funds for preventive actions appear to be much smaller than the finance for purchase of equipment, computer and office equipment for state rehabilitation structures.

In itself the growth of the costs on realization of the indicated purpose-oriented programs (section C., the paragraph 12-15) is not a parameter of efficiency of expending of means. At the absence of the legislatively fixed and effective mechanisms of these funds will be spent out of control again and, it makes no sense with the large degree of probability. As the financing of the “disabled children” program is not direct, and is distributed to the chosen Institutions “from above”, a large part of children with expressed disorders of development gets practically nothing. So, the majority of non-governmental establishments where the qualified experts work and help to many disabled children who were not managed to find help in governmental institutions, has no access to financing within the framework of the “Disabled Children Program”.

State programs which at the absence of a reasonable distribution of funds could become one of the instruments of development of civil society, now in Russia are a method of a closed distribution of financial resources. The public does not have information of where there are these means: there is no discussion at financial distribution, there is no competition, no openness, no published reports. The only accessible for a public document there is the act of check of realization of the program by the Account Chamber of Russia, in which a lot of examples of no-purpose use of the budgetary funds are indicated. And it is not known of any fact of administrative or other punishment of the officers supervising the given program. The proposals of public organizations to act as Co-executors of realization of the program remain without any response. Experienced NGOs with good reputation must have been natural applicants for getting funds , for example, on a competitive principle. We are connected with a plenty of organizations in regions and we know that a great majority of them do not get these funds. As there is no open information of where these means of the state programs were transmitted, and no reports are published, it is impossible to speak about the efficiency of these programs.

 

12. Neglected children are deprived of personality-oriented social help.

Indicated in the Report “personality-oriented” help “to all” children in need (section C., paragraph 18) is not provided at all to the children who have become neglected and homeless, as they will not be able to prove of a low level of the incomes of their families to anyone in any way. It means, this “personality-oriented” help is not distributed to them. The similar remark is possible to make that “complete financing of benefit payments from the federal budget... will guarantee equal amounts of this social guarantee for all eligible children irrespective of their place of residence”. (section C., paragraph 20). The distribution of these huge funds will hardly do any good to street children. The absence of mechanisms allowing even to calculate exactly how many homeless children are there in Russia, and the absence of social professions which enable to interact with the child who has appeared to be in the street because of difficult vital circumstances, deprives of any warranties the mentioned categories and groups of children and teenagers. At the same time, the graduates from high schools, specializing in “social work”, in the majority do not possess practical skills. The problem of obtaining social payments, including allowances for children, by refugees and forced migrants, is very severe - the requirement of the availability of registration as the conditions of payment, never and for nobody has been cancelled, and even at the implementation of this requirement the children's allowances - because of absence of funds in the local budgets - are paid extremely irregularly. In Chechnya, where the payment of pensions is made in central stations, the children's allowances are not paid.

 

13. Some problems of summer rest arrangement for children.

The report doesn’t provide full information about summer rest for children (section B, paragraph 21). So called “competition of programs” is the only result of involvement of NGOs, which have no possibility to get to know neither the competition juries nor the results of the jury’s activity of realization of the programs which were granted. Even if an organization is awarded its grant is 2 times less than it was announced before (as in 2001) and 4 times less (as in 2000). The decision of the Government of Russian Federation to transfer funds of the Social Insurance foundation to responsibility of the regional authorities in the year 2000 has resulted in liquidation of all-Russian system of summer health-improving camps and pushed to separatism at the regional level. It has also become an obstacle between children, parents and teachers in the frame of regional and national interaction.

 

14. Problems of efficiency of international help to children.

It is necessary to dwell on the fact that international co-operation and aid are highlighted in the Report in favour of Russian children. We regret to ascertain that the main money flow is transferred through the state bodies and departments. They are investing it to the programs which don’t change the current situation profoundly. Thus, the state system which has proved to be inefficient in terms of children’s rights protection is maintained. This can be confirmed by the fact that so called “priority group” has been picked out and comprised “children in the care of the state (orphans and disabled persons)” (see Section B, paragraph 26). As it can be seen from the definition, “disabled children” are considered to be only those “in the care of state”, i.e. in state homes for invalids. In a nutshell the main field of activity is meant to be the maintaining of disabled children in homes for invalids but not in families. It should be noted that support of bringing up disabled children in families is not mentioned at all.

Another statement can serve as a proof: “The Russian Federation is gratified to note the understanding shown by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of how important it is to accommodate the interests of children in carrying out social policy reform programs. Currently, an IBRD SPIL loan is being used to implement a project aimed to assist the introduction of a new child benefit system.” (see Section B, paragraph 27). making up of the system of benefits for children is matter of financing mechanism but not of reformation. In addition it doesn’t require any loan. Moreover that loan is just wasted and isn’t used for reformation process. Interaction between certain foundations in foreign countries (for example, Soros Fund) and public organizations in this country is quite local and not fully systematic though rather profitable for Russian society. In some cases due the lack of professionalism of the fund managers huge sums are spent with low efficiency. It can be brightly exemplified by the activity of the Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) Russian Agency which realize the program called Assistance to Russian Orphans (ARO).

 

15. Lack of fight against child prostitution and children involvement in pornobusiness.

Special Reporter of the UN was mentioned to visit Russia (section. B., paragraph 35). He was especially interested in fight against child prostitution and child pornography. Meanwhile the authors of the Report haven’t found it possible to confirm that practically no measures against these phenomena are taken in Russia. Advertising of sexual services are published legally in approximately 1/3 of newspapers. According to the results of checking these ads, in some cases minors are involved in such activity. Policemen are often accomplices of the children’s prostitution at practically all train stations in Moscow and consequently it leads to the prosperity of such business. Criminal code doesn’t consider minor’s involvement in prostitution or porno-business to be more grave crime than adult’s involvement. Up two years of imprisonment can be inflicted as punishment for engagement minors in porno-business. This crime is consider to be of quite low severity; quite seldom accomplices are prosecuted and imprisoned. Even in case of imprisonment convicted as a rule are granted an amnesty.

 

16. The efforts of the state do not improve the children’s standing.

By and large Section B illustrates the above mentioned idea about highly active work of the Government in the field of children’s rights protection while no practical results of it for a certain child or a family are mentioned. The given data can be viewed as dejected ones. For example, the info about increased children benefit (paragraph. 19) looks funny as it should be taken into account that this benefit has grown from $2 to $2,5 per month (that is the price of one pack of pampers) while the minimum living wage varies from $50 to $100 (it is defined by the region) nevertheless positive changes in financial standing of disadvantaged families which happened during the last year should be highlighted. Unfortunately these tendency has not had positive impact on the negative situation in this field.

 

17. Children are not aware of their rights and have no possibility to lodge a complaint

The report describes as well the educational activity aimed to an increase of public awareness about children’s rights (Section G, A). The way of description can show you one more time the chosen style of reporting: authors demonstrate activity but give no analysis of Real Results. Meanwhile examination of public opinion in some regions (in Novgorod region, Krasnodarsky region) has revealed that only insignificant proportion of children has slightest ideas about their rights; practically non of them knows where to inquire if their rights have been violated. There is no such practice to lodge a complains which can be submitted by any citizen. Information about rights of children in Internet is available only for small part of population of the Russian Federation, and as a result it doesn’t play any significant role for situation in general.

18. Drawbacks of the children health protection.

Undoubtedly certain significant steps have been taken in the field of children health protection. The Report gives us these steps in details (see Section D-B). Though the results of these steps are still unclear as well as in the above mentioned cases. The Reporters haven’t paid attention to the fact that for the last decade total number of incidence of illness among children has gone up by 23% (from 1136.2 to 1393 cases among 1000 children) and they have not explained this phenomenon. They also missed out other important factors:

·        due to regional separatism and constant transport tariff increase qualified medical assistance in central medical centers is available with great difficulty for children from regions;

·        progressive rise in medicine and cure methods prices (it concerns first and foremost the newest and the most effective ones) as well as unregulated system of medical insurance make almost impossible for children from disadvantaged families get updated treatment (because every time when a doctor makes out a medicament he has to fins out whether it is possible for parents to buy it; if not medical preparations and methods which are not so effective and more risky in terms of side effects and complications are used).

This can be exemplified by the order of the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences dated by July, 10, 2000 № 252/50 “organization of expensive medical attendance with usage of high tech equipment in the medical centers of the federal system”. This order sets up quotas to the number of medical cases (all of them are to be the citizens of the Russian Federation) which cam get stated types of medical assistance. So every year in Russia only 1639 citizens can get free of charge treatment on neurosurgery, 3515 citizens on surgical oncological assistance, 175 citizens - kidney transplantation, 99 – bone marrow transplantation and 7602 can get treatment of hemophilia. These figures are given for children and adults all together. Each region has its own quotas for free of charge treatment of certain diseases. For example, Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug has no quotas for free treatment of urological, ophtalmological diseases, bone marrow transplantation, maxillary facial surgery and thoracic surgery.

It is extremely difficult to get medical assistance for families of the forced migrants. In most areas of Russia obligatory medical insurance policy can be given out only to citizens of the Russian Federation and registered migrants. In Moscow, for example, the policy is available only for those settlers whose registration period exceeds 6 months, while usually the period of registration in Moscow does not exceed 6 months. As a result Chechen children which in most cases have no status of the forced settlers are practically deprived of free medical assistance.(But the situation in Moscow is not so serious as according to the Moscow Health Committee decision which was given for implementation to the NGO called “Civil Assistance to Refugees and Forced Migrants” forces settlers without status and registration can be received in some Moscow clinics.) medical assistance is accessible for migrants without status only at their own expenses and it is the category of refugees where health situation of the worst. Persons suffering from serious chronic illness (such as oncological diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, bronchial asthma, infantile celebral paralysis and so on) have the right for free medicaments in Russia. Though most refugees and forced migrants (with status included) can not take their rights for medicament supply on privileged terms neither in Moscow nor in regions. In the first case it is because of lack of registration on the place of residence and in the second case it is due to the lack of financing these privileges in local budgets.

We have also to touch upon medical problems of Chechen settlers in Ingushetia. Cancer cases and people with open stage of tuberculosis are kept with healthy people (including children) in common tents and coaches. The most widespread diseases are as follows: intestinal diseases, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, cordial diseases, diseases of the mind, nervous diseases, rash and pediculosis. Antibiotics, analgetics, cordial and hypotensive drugs as well as syringes, gauze and antiseptics are needed badly. Migrants can reach clinic only by bus but people do not have money to pay for a ticket. Due to the lack of petrol and cars ambulance refuses to go to migrant camps in most cases. All hospitals are crowded with very serious cases and thus people have to stay on corridors. All the treatment for wounded people are free of charge, but medicaments and dressings are to be paid for by the relatives. Absence of antigangrenous serum leads to repeated amputation of extremities. Hospitals are short of medical equipment and the equipment in operation is likely to be put out. Transportation of seriously wounded and ill patients to the hospitals on other cities are carried out by the Emergency Ministry. First and foremost it concerns children.

Though the problem of settling and feeding escort exists. As only several NGOs support such activities and finding funds for it is extremely difficult matter.

Problems of mental health of children have been missed out at the report not by chance. The statistics shows that only ¼ of the Russian schoolchildren at the age of 16-17 (the school leaving age) can be recognized completely mentally healthy. Such service of the Mental Health Service does not exist in Russia; such specialty as infantile and adolescent psychiatrist has been eliminated from the official list if medical specialists; moreover training of experts in this field does not meet the current requirements. In fact the problem of children’s suicides has been completely disregarded not by chance as well. Every year the number of children’s suicides continuos to increase. Meanwhile crises service for children still has not been set up. As it was stated above the statistics of such suicides is not a subject for publication but according to the data from the regions the problem of children’s suicides is becoming the burning issue of the day. For example, last year 170 children committed suicides to compare with 140 suicides the previous year (i.e. its number has increased by 21% in Khabarovsky region).

 

19. Lack of preventive measures of the HIV and AIDS.

The HIV and the AIDS disease incidence are the main issues of Section D-B, paragraph 14-18. Some desultory information about current situation is given instead of the total situation and disease spreading in dynamics. Thus the text does not provide possibility to define the speed of spreading this mortally dangerous disease and to recognize if the number of cases has exceeded the epidemic rate. The given text contents no information about proper preventive measures taken by the state or any NGOs. The fact is that currently practically no arrangement if the kind are made (besides HIV tests which are carried out in risky groups among infected with hepatitis Band C and drug abusers). Moreover some preventive programs (for example, the diminishing drug damage program or handing out of disposable syringes) are prohibited by the authorities of the number of member entities of the Russian Federation (for example in Moscow).

 

20. Negative processes which take place during the pregnancy and childbirth.

The report gives true picture of negative processes which take place during pregnancy period and confinement in Russia though it does not point to the reasons of the phenomenon (section D - D). In particular there is no mention about evidently unique Russian; phenomenon – so called childbirth regulation, i.e. artificial ceasing of the birth activity if the process starts at the inappropriate for staff time (for example, at night) with further artificial stimulation. Interruption into natural process leads with high probability to perinatal infant pathology and makes complications for a woman in childbirth more possible. The information about the scale of such practice is not published but while making a birth case history physicians come across such cases more often than not.

 

21. The problem of children’s orphanage has become more acute.

The problem of children’s orphanage still remains to be the most acute and unsolved one in Russia. First and foremost it is because authorities are unable to reform antihuman and ineffective system of homes for invalids which requires heavy investment and which hurts children. The result of all governmental programs and heavy investment is worse situation these children who are in institutional care are found themselves. We must also say about slyness of the facts given in the report (Section D-E). Last 10 years showed that the number of children deprived of parents guardian and orphans has increased in more than 1.5 times meanwhile the total children population on Russia has cut down by more than 6 million. In 1991 only 1% of the total number of children comprises orphans and children deprived of parent’s guardian, in 2000 –the figure was equal to 2%, i.e. for the last 10 years the number if orphans has increased as much as 2 times. For all this the proportion of orphans which were taken to families remains the same like 110 years ago. 27%-28% of orphans are brought up in orphan’s homes. For the same time each year the proportion of children taken away from the parents increase, for example, for the period 1993-1999 this figure has gone up as much as 2.1 times (from 258956 to 50018 cases). This is maybe the only true price of all declarations about the family priority and the result of all efforts paid by the state (the latters are described in details in this report, Section D-E). This problem illustrates how weak the state is if civil society with its numerous initiatives and unframed by departments and interests is not involved in solution of the problems of childhood.

Social orphanage prevention system still has not been set up, the situation is quite the same with the system of adaptation after orphan’s homes. According to public organizations the right of habitation of those who was brought up in orphan’s homes is constantly violated unless legal institutions and state structures provide strict supervision. It should be underlined that tutorial and adoptive families which took the orphans are deprived of any support even for the adaptation period and are not appropriately supervised by the board of guardians. (This can be confirmed by examination made in Republic Tyva). Any system for future adoptive parents fails to exist. Moreover existed experience of the kind which is practiced on some regions is not used on other parts of the country.

 

22. Education is not available for the majority of children.

The point about school education was also presented with some coloring the truth and distortion (Section D-F). Experts have trustworthy information that at least 10% (not less than 2 million of children) of schoolchildren do not study anywhere; a child and his/her parents practically have no rights as far as the school administration is concerned. Many schools practice embossment of schoolchildren which are not enough talented or appropriate for their school from their point of view. Typical situation is as follows: parents disagree to take their child out of school (as he is considered to be inappropriate). As a result teachers promise to give “unsatisfactory” marks on all subjects next year. Schools are not responsible for the further destiny of an embossed pupil. According to the data of the former Youth Committee of the Russian Federation 38% of children undergoes psychological and physical violence on the part of teachers; declarations about setting up of the Boards of Guardians at schools still remain to be just declarations.

The state educational system still does not envisage schools which are to train children with marked mental and psychoemotional disability. Public schools are ready to teach such children only with a resolution of the Medical-Psychological-Pedagogical Commission. But in such cases the Commission does not provide directive to the needed school. The procedure of receiving such directives abases and as a result the child is confirmed to be “untrainable” and the Commission recommends to put the child into a boarding school for handicaped children. The only way out is to find a nonpublic school or to teach him/her at home.

In accordance with number of laws and articles disabled children which are taught at nonpublic educational institutions or at home (if they are not taken to public educational institutions) are entitled to get pecuniary aid for education. Most parents are not aware of the right for such aid due to state policy. Moreover the absolute majority of official of middle and low rank of Educational Department is ignorant of such legal right as well. As a result these progressive elements of legislation are not supported by mechanisms of realization.

When parents try to get pecuniary aid for education they come across candid misunderstanding and irritation of officials and insuperable obstacles. At first they are sent back to the Pedagogical – Psychological - -Medical Commission which has already examined the child and as a result the child can not be taught at public schools. It is extremely significant to tell that resolution form does not include such an article as “teaching recommendations”. That is why the sign “recommended to be taught at boarding school for handicaped children” is usually done on the article “treatment and working recommendations”. In the case of parents’ insistence on child’s living in his/her family and proper education, they are accused to have a claim on teaching of “untrainable” child and thus to waste expenditures on the part of the state. But their sufferings do not cease here. Pretty often the parents are compelled to put their child to hospital for making “more precise diagnosis”. It should be noted that the state laws does not require the commission resolution and entitle parents to choose the educational institution for their child. By the law a reason for pecuniary aid is the parents’ desire to teach their child at nonpublic institution. Though that right is almost always violated. As a result more often than not child has to stay at home and no one is responsible for it since there is no control system on the part of the state if disabled children attend a school or not in Russia.

The obligations which were taken by the state implies that expenditures on teaching of disabled children will be higher than on healthy children. In real life the situation is on the contrary: education of a healthy child requires considerable expenditures (first on kinder garden education where children are fed and taught, then on school education). After school state should provide professional or higher education as well. But in the case of disabled children there is no educational system – such child can not attend neither kinder garden nor school. Pretty often he/she can not even dream about the food which is served free in kinder gardens or primary schools. Thus a disabled child is “punished “ twice: the state has not set up educational system for such children and meanwhile family with a disabled child had no possibility to get pecuniary aid which can make possible to educate the child (as all state expenditures for children are carries out through the state institutions).

The situation with education of the forced migrant children does not differ a lot. As a rule such children are not admitted neither to orphan’s homes nor to boarding schools in which they can be kept until their parents can find job and habitation for a while. Such children are unwillingly taken free of charge by the municipal educational institutions or are not admitted at all. Migrants’ families which were forced to move from Chechnya due to recommenced military operations come across serious educational problems as well. The Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation confirmed the illegality of such activities of local authorities more than once. So did the General Office of Public Prosecutors. But they were not a success. The order of the Moscow Committee of Education № 567 dated by 21.09.1999 says: “Children moved from another town can be admitted to schools and boarding schools only at the presence of registration documents”. The order concerns children from the families which were forced to run away because of firing and bombing. It was issued the next day after commence of military operations in Chechnya. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the rules of registration on Moscow and Moscow region to be contradictory to legislation and inapplicable on May, 2001. Nevertheless the order is still in force.

The rights of children of turkes-meskhetintses are violated the most severely in Krasnodarsky region. There are 13 thousand of such children. Since 1989 the rights of the nation have been completely violated (the representatives of the nation are deprived of citizenship, right of residence, pecuniary aid, pensions, etc.). Kinder gardens refuse to admit the children of turkes-meskhetintses. It concerns first and foremost Krymsky district of Krasnodarsky region. Children can not get a passport; instead of the standard Birth Certificate children can have certificates which are not valid for official bodies. Parents can not register their marriage thus children have the mother’s surname. This is regarded to be an insult for the national pride. So called “Turkish classes” are formed for children of turkes-meskhetintses as if it is in their interests. Thus the racial discrimination of children are carried out.

 

23. Disastrous situation with disabled children in state homes for invalids.

As to the disabled children (section D-J, paragraph 2-13), living in the homes for invalids of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Russian Federation, the Report does not say anything about their disastrous state. First of all, those children are deprived of appropriate medical care, because they have no necessary personnel, medical equipment and possibilities, since the homes for invalids are not in the list of the healthcare establishments. The necessary surgical correction of inborn defects of internal organs and bone defects is not performed for those children. Post-mortem examination of dead children is not performed as well. As a matter of fact, this homes are alike children's concentration camps, where disabled children are kept without any hope for their health improvement, development and adaptation. The disabled children, placed in homes for invalid, are legally (!) deprived of their flat (it might be explained by the fact that most of those children die in the course of time and, thereby, cannot apply for their former flat). When the parents send their child to the home for invalids, his/her registration at the place of residence is preserved. It is not necessary for the child's parents to return him/her back home to be able to take advantage of the privileges granted to disabled children and to get an extra flat from the state. The children are to leave their homes for invalids at the age of 18 (16 till recent time). But none of those children who has remained alive is actually taken home. They all put to homes for adult invalids; Herewith the acting order, they are to be check out from their places of residence and registered at the homes for adult invalids. The disabled signs appropriate papers, usually not realizing at all which documents they have signed (as the children from home for invalids have not got any experience of dealing with documents and don't understand their meaning because they are not explained and taught anything systematically). If the apartment was not privatized or the disabled child did not participate in its privatization, he/she cannot be registered there back without the consent of his/her relatives and, therefore, he/she has nowhere to live.

Thus, mentioned above Lyuba Mozhaeva, a disabled woman lived in Moscow houses since 6 years of age. When she was 16, she was sent to a psycho-neurological home for invalids (PNHI). First Lyuba was registered in a municipal apartment together with her mother. Using the privileges granted to disabled children, Lyuba's family got a two-room apartment. All that time Lyuba was kept in the home for invalids. In 1992, Lyuba was checked out from her apartment because she was sent to an home for adult invalids where she was registered. then Lyuba's mother privatized their apartment. Lyuba was not aware of it. When she got a baby in 2001, she found out that neither she nor her baby had no flat, and her privilege had already been used. In spite of the fact that Lyuba Mozhaeva is able-bodied and has no formal limitations in her rights, in reality she is deprived of the possibilities to bring up her child.

 

24. Absence of the rehabilitation system of disabled children and counteraction to it from state establishments.

The statement of the Report that " from 1998, rehabilitation of disabled children has been based on individual programs combining medical, occupational and social rehabilitation. In 1999 alone, Institutions engaged in medical and social examination drew up Individual Rehabilitation Programs for 46.200 thousand disabled children. " (section D-J., paragraph 9) hides a true situation again. The Individual Rehabilitation Programs (IRP) have been drawn up only for 8 % of 592 thousand disabled children, registered in Russia, (and according to the valuations given by many experts, there is a greater number of them in this country). It means, that for others 92 % of disabled children there is practically no rehabilitation: in state establishments the Officers simply do not know what to do with them. That is almost 550 thousand children with more severe or multiple impairments and disorders can not find adequate rehabilitation help in this country.

What could those few children who has not got any help in a state establishment, find in non-governmental centers or from a private expert? According to the laws which are known neither to parents, nor to officers, the families of those children have the right to indemnification of the costs on rehabilitation services. The rules of obtaining this indemnification are arranged even more complicated than those of the indemnification of costs on the disabled child's education. It only can be demanded after the costs on the approved beforehand IRP have been covered by the parents themselves (herewith nobody is worried where the family can get money for a rehabilitation course). Parents should apply to the Bureau of the Medical and Social Examination (BMSE) or to the Medical and Social Commission of Experts (MSCE) for the Individual Rehabilitation Program to be approved. As a rule, in a body of the Office of the Medical and Social Examination where the child’s IRP must be approved, there are no experts with the experience of helping to such children. Besides, the members of an Examination body see those children for the first time or, in the best case, once in some years when there is a scheduled examination. The teachers and psychologists actually are not included into these bodies' staff. That's why parents, taking their child to BMSE body, also take the project of the IRP drawn up in the non-governmental center where the child has been taught successfully. Typical elements of modern children's training consist of development of emotional and volitional abilities, special imagination, cognitive abilities, mobility, game activities and speech abilities; teaching communication skills, self-service, acquisition of social skills; give psychological information and consultative help to the family, accompanying those elements. The Examination body members are usually shocked with all those things. The parents' remarks that the child has noticeably improved are always ignored. Thus, the experts of an Examination body refuse to approve the project of the IRP which successful realization has already significantly improved the child's abilities, being incapable and herewith considering it impossible to help to this child. The absence of the approved IRP excludes the possibility to get compensation.

For example, in spring of 2001 The head of a Moscow BMSE, a qualified expert and a decent man, who was brave enough to approve the IRP project, offered by the experts of the non-governmental rehabilitation center, where they worked successfully with the child. At the following stage, when the parents applied to a municipal body of social protection and it was clear to the officers that it was necessary to pay the compensation, the expert who had approved IRP was obstructed: he was threatened to be dismissed and exacted to pay the compensation with his own money. He was also explained that he "is wasting the National purse". The parents have not managed to get their compensation yet, and the expert who approved the IRP now refuses to approve more of IRP projects, recommended to other families by non-governmental centers.

 

25. Lack of preventive measures against children's care deprivation and actions for rehabilitation of neglected children.

 Concerning neglected children (section D-G., paragraph 14-21) the Government has started to take certain measures, but they still remain insufficient, and sometimes even do a lot of harm to the children. For example, as a result of enactment of a Federal law on “the Fundamentals of Prevention of Child Neglect and Juvenile Delinquency” (1999) a significant part of neglected children (run away from their homes and arrived in big cities such as Moscow), appears to be beyond the responsibilities of any bodies of public authorities because those children have done no wrong. By this law even the Centers for the Temporary Isolation of Juvenile Offenders have no right to helping those minors till they have broken the law!

The public prosecutors protested against the attempts of the militia to help those children. However, now The militiamen have a possibility to take children to the places where they have run from, according to the Decree of the Russian Federation of 26.10.2000 № 822. Obviously, it is not the solution of the problem, but it is just returning the problem to its initial point. The child runs away from home where it is obviously bad to him/her, but the Government returns him/her back again. Even the very action to the child, so-called “transportation” (!!!) shows the government's attitude to the children's problems! The child does not need to be transported (like cattle) from one place to another which might be even worse for him. It should be done only after the situation at his/her place of residence have been analyzed and the appropriate rehabilitation measures have been arranged.

The results of the governmental targeted program on “prevention of child neglect and juvenile delinquency” which has been realized for three years remain vague. How many neglected children were there before the realization of the program and how many of them are there now? Most likely (judging by the number of orphaned and deprived of parental care children in the streets of Moscow), the child neglect is spreading and growing in Russia. Item 8. of the mentioned above Law provides distribution of the responsibilities among 8 governmental departments working with neglected children. However, the institute of the street social workers which would find those children and would work with them has not been established. Though there are over a thousand neglected children at the 9 Moscow railway stations, The situation when the employees of the trusteeship bodies and social protection bodies went to the stations for these children is not known to us. At the same time we know a lot of cases of violation of the rights of neglected children by militiamen. For example, the children who smell glue are taken it away and it is daubed on their hair; the numerous cases of unreasonable beatings of neglected children with rubber clubs, of the use of gas-bags towards them, of cutting off soles from their boots are known as well. Hanna Pollack, a German citizen, arranged regular meals for children at Kursky Moscow railway station the militiamen regularly expelled her from the station, destroying the meal, intended for children. Concerning the complaints by public organizations of such a bad attitude to neglected children, heads of the militia bodies begin to pursue these public organizations. Thus, after the complaint by the Committee for the civil rights to the chief department of Internal Affairs of Yaroslavl region about the behaviour of the Militiamen which arrived to the Committee being in the state of alcohol intoxication, to take the children and subjected one of the children to beating, and insulted the members of the Committee, the Chief Staff of the Department of Internal Affairs began to demand from the Prosecutor to recognize the actions of the Committee on rendering assistance to neglected children as illegal. It is not clear what the statement about great progress in the activities of specialized establishments for minors who are in need of social rehabilitation is based on, if they return back to families only 46% of neglected children. According to statistics by the NAN Foundation, approximately 65% of neglected children, "street" children, live in the street only from time to time, and their returning home is real enough. About 10% of children live (now) mainly at home, but disappear from home for some time and already “make home” in the street. It is more difficult to work with them, but rehabilitation work with those children allows to achieve success as well. And only 25% of children perceive street as “their native home”. However, the work with them is not useless, too. Thus, indicated productivity of the state system is very low! But it is necessary to emphasize that the giving medical aid to neglected and homeless children is organized quite well, the cases of refusal of such help are of single character.

 

26. A repressive character of the attitude of Russian juridical bodies and bodies of internal affairs towards minor children.

The report only has touched upon the problem of offences of minors in a short phrase (section G-J, paragraph 22). It has not mentioned at all a very painful issue of judicial proceeding. Judicial authorities, Legislator, the bodies of investigation and Prosecutor's office completely ignore social and age nature of children's delinquency. It is manifested in assigning an unreasonably frequent and long-termed punishment such as deprivation of freedom, in an unreasonable choice of a measure of suppression of putting into prison, in ignoring by the courts the influence of the punishment, assigned to the minor child, on the best protection of his/her interests, his/her development, the state of his/her relatives. At the same time application of the legal norms, improving the state of minors, is decreasing. For example, from 1995 to 1998 the percentage of minors condemned to the punishment lower than the lowest limit, decreased from 20,7% to 13,8%. If in 1998 25% of all minor defendants were condemned to real deprivation of freedom, to such kinds of punishment as corrective jobs and fine, correspondingly, only 0,3 and 1%. Now there are about 40 thousand of children in prison in Russia. The courts prefer to apply unfairly long terms of punishment such as deprivation of freedom to minors. So, for example, in 1998 for perpetration of theft (the offense which the teenagers make most frequently) only 3,8% of defendants were assigned the punishment of less than one year of deprivation of freedom, while the punishment from 2 to 5 years - to 71,2%. Though the legislation of the Russian Federation provides the possibility of release of minors from the criminal liability in connection with repentance and reconciliation with the plaintiff, the courts extremely seldom use these institutes of liberation of children from the criminal liability. By the new Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (1997) the application, concerning minors , such kind of punishment as putting of the responsibility to smooth down the caused harm, was excluded. Besides, the assignment of the punishment such as deprivation of freedom, served in colonies-settlements, is not permitted to minors. Thus, for adult criminals in this country there is a functioning system of half-open prisons, named colonies-settlements, while for minors there are only prisons (colonies) of a closed type.

The priority of retaliatory methods of effect on the young offenders over the methods of educational and social character also reveals in the fact that article 92 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation does not allow to assign the measures of a educational character such as putting into a closed educational Institution of any minor defendants, except for those who were condemned for a crime of average weight. Thus, if the teenager has stolen a can of cucumbers or during a fight seized a stick, he may be put into a juvenile penal colony, and he/she may not be sent to a special school or to a special college. Sharp reduction of a number of children condemned to a closed educational Institution is the consequence of this approach, in this connection at present the most of these Institutions remain half-empty, and the unique pedagogical collectives don't realize their abilities in full value. In 1997 the forced measures of a educational character with the discontinuance of criminal case were assigned to 2928 minors, and in 1998 - to Only 2567 of minors, that is approximately 10% of minors who made crime of a small or average degree of weight.

Till now a great number of children serve their sentences far from their homes. There no juvenile penal colonies in more than in 10 of member entities of the Russian Federation, including such large ones as Komi Republic. There are only three juvenile penal colonies for girls, and the most of the girls serve their sentences for a thousand and more than kilometers away from houses. Prevention and treatment of tuberculosis of minor prisoners is organized unsatisfactory. Annually in the Russian Federation more than 500 minor prisoners get ill from tuberculosis . Minors, suffering from an open form of tuberculosis, are sent from penal juvenile colonies to treating-corrective departments where they are kept together with condemned adults.

The numerous cases are known when the child, receiving pension on the loss of the bread-winner or on a disability, stops payment of such pension. The bodies of social protection treat the children, receiving pensions, by the principle “out of sight - out of mind” and do not consider it to be necessary to remit the pensions cases to the colonies where the child serves his /her sentence. The problem of grab of the housing accommodation of children, illegal bargains with their housing accommodation or actual deprivation of their housing accommodation during their stay in the places of imprisonment is not decided as well. The deprivation of children of housing accommodation is promoted by the mechanism of functioning of the institute of registration: after condemnation of the child to deprivation of freedom he/she is removed from the registration at the former residence automatically, however, to restore the registration after being released one needs the consent of all the full age members of the family. Therefore loss of housing accommodation in connection with automatic removal from the registration and simultaneous restoring of the registration depending on the discretion of other people who frequently are often hostile to the interests of the child, takes a mass character. By our provisional valuations, not less than 50 thousand of children-orphans have turned out to stay deprived of housing accommodation.

Till 1.01.97 in this country there was an institute of delay of serving the sentence for minor defendants which allow in case of necessity to give the young offender already condemned on probation one more chance. And there were not given any scientific, economic or political reasons for cancellation of the institute of delay of punishment for the minor condemned. In the middle of 1990's the institute of putting the minor under the guidance of a body of workers or educational collective and public tutors which recommended itself perfectly was cancelled. Now petitions to the court from collectives of the enterprises, institutes, schools which have known the defendant more often for many years and are ready to control his/her behaviour during the condemnation on probation, as a rule, are rejected or ignored by the courts.

The control over the behaviour of children condemned on probation and their corrective work are conducted by the Division on minor militia of public security, which main responsibility to detect the crimes and to struggle against criminality. The absence of a special service on work with the minor offenders, condemned without deprivation of freedom, the usage in the work with the condemned on probation teenagers mainly retaliatory, instead of social methods is the main reason of a high level of a relapse among the condemned on probation teenagers.

Since September, 2000 the President of the Russian Federation has stopped signing the Decrees about mercy (last similar precedent in Russia was 300 years ago). In this connection the possibilities to have mercy already have lost 1,5 thousands the of teenagers who have left a significant part of punishment, whose cases were sent to the President for solution of the question about their mercy.

In some regions it has became lately more difficult to public organizations to get in the penal juvenile colonies and camera of  special insulators for the contents of the minors. Thus, the Management of performance of punishment of the Moscow region in 1999 in the unilateral order stopped cooperation with the Committee on civil rights, the social workers of which helped to hundreds of pupils of the Mozhaiskaya and Ikshanskaya penal juvenile colonies for five years.

Thus, the system of assignment and performance of punishment to the minor offenders in the Russian Federation ignores features of behaviour and development of the minors, is unfairly severe, is ineffective, does not observe the international standards and does not achieve the purposes of punishment, defined by Article 43 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, - correction of the condemned, inadmissibility of making new crimes, restoring social justice.

 

27. Lack of a real combat against children's alcoholism and drug addiction.

The problem of children's drug addiction and alcoholism (section G-J, paragraph 23-25) practically is not being solved in any way despite of its disastrously increasing acuteness. In particular, as a matter of fact there is no children's service of preventing drug addiction, the experts for work with children in this field are not trained. In society and in governmental bodies the repressive approach to combat drug addiction still prevails (during recent parliamentary hearings, in May, 2000, on the problem of children's drug addiction a lot of the deputies of State Duma demanded to legalize execution for the distributors of drugs, simultaneously not having offered any real measures for preventing children's drug addiction, for arranging help to children who have joined to the use of drugs). It is not accidental that the Report was limited only to several common phrases on this theme. Typical examples of “struggle” with teenage drug addiction are planting of drugs to minor children, doing provocative actions, when individuals, initiated by the militia Officers, convince minor drug addictors to sell or to transmit drugs to them. Being arrested by militiamen, young “drug dealers” face the choice - either to become accomples of the same provocations towards their fellows, or to get a 7-10 years' deprivation of freedom.

 

28. The Problems of the child and family of the indigenous small peoples.

The tendency of the makers of the National report to pass over the urgent problems of childhood in silence was revealed especially glaringly in the description of the children's state of the indigenous ethnic groups of the far North (section G-J, paragraph 27). Actually for the children of these peoples, especially living (nomadising) in places of their traditional activities, the words saying “to provide every child with  access to basic social benefits even though they live in remote areas and in adverse natural and climatic conditions” seem to be just a name. Absolute insinuation are the statements that creation of the network of tele-medicine and new mobile and distant forms of education in places of traditional residence of the small peoples of the North. It is especially tragic for the natives of the North, including women and children, a disastrous decrease of access to medical services and recreational technologies. For example, in Chukotsky Autonomous District a pregnant woman from tundra was refused in hospitalization because of the absence of the insurance policy with her; as a result, both the mother and the baby died. Now it is a usual thing that pregnant women and women in childbirth have to go over hundreds of kilometers of tundra and taiga to reach a hospital and back. Infant mortality rate of these peoples is 2-4 times higher than on the average in Russia. Children of the indigenous small peoples get ill 2-3 times more often than their coevals in the central regions of Russia, they grow toothless, with weakened sight. Morbidity of tuberculosis and other contagious diseases is especially menacing. However, vaccination and other preventive measures are left in the past. In general, there is no exact and veracious data about the state of children's health of the small peoples of the North as during prior years they were secret, and now centralized gathering and analysis of data has been stopped          . The factors of destruction and pollution of natural environment are particularly dangerous - nature of the North accumulates bad factors both of northern and southern “origin”, and the peoples of the North continue to live and to eat in natural environment. It leads to accumulation of harmful chemical substances in the body and transfer of them from the mother to children. As a result, the contents of harmful substances in the bodies of newborn natives of the North 2-10 times more than in the southern areas. These unfavorable factors of natural environment, in particular high concentration of artificial radio-active materials, positively correlate with a number of babies born dead, periodicity of cataract cases, mental disorders and mental retardation.

Mass and forced separation of children of the natives from their parents keeping them in boarding schools and a great change of character of traditional nutrition have resulted in violation transmission of ethnic culture, break of interfamily bonds, violation of functioning of the important structures of the organism. In the northern villages the number of school-buildings is two times and more lower of the all-Russian level, and the problem of alternative, small and tundra schools is not solved at all. About half of the existing buildings of educational establishments does not meet modern norms and climatic conditions. The schools are not adapted to regional and ethnic specificity, there is no necessary literature. The indigenous small peoples of the North and other ethnic and territorial groups have already entered the path leading to extinction. Probably, that day is near when the smallest ethnic groups, such as kereki, chulymtsy, whose existence numbers centuries and thousands of years of history, will disappear from the face of the Earth.

 

 29. Lack of a governmental practical program of action on protection of childhood and family.

And, at last, the most depressing impression makes the plan of further action for its declarative character (section E) because it doesn't contain any concrete proposal of how at present the state should solve the most urgent problems of childhood and family in Russia.

 

In conclusion we put forward the concrete proposals. No significant investments are needed for their realization. Their realization is possible already now in existing Russian conditions at the availability of political will and comprehension that:

- the very Existence of Russia as the state depends on solution of problems of the family and childhood;

- society is doomed to physical, intellectual and moral degradation Without support of children, teenagers and youth, without special attention to the family;

- Russia will turn into the state with backward raw economy Without investments in education and development of growing up generations.

 

OUR Proposals

 

1. To create legal and social-technological basis of juvenile justice.

Reestablish in Russia juvenile courts, having provided for this purpose, first of all, a complex of educational programs directed on improvement of professional skills and specialization of currently working judges, considering the cases of minor children. To give to the activity of the courts not a retaliatory, but a rehabilitation character at the consideration of cases of minor children with the application of measures of a socializing, preventive and developing character.

To create a local system of social work with children. To develop and to introduce in social practice new social professions for work with children: street social workers, social workers for dealing with families, social workers in juvenile courts (at juvenile judges), social workers for rehabilitation programs. To ensure saturation of work with children non-penal, social-and-rehabilitation, preventive and developing program actions.

 

2. To develop and to accept legal norms ensuring creation and introduction of the system of interaction of the governmental bodies of the Russian Federation with non-governmental non-commercial organizations, including those ones that act for the interests of children.

To elaborate and to accept the Federal law on the Russian Federation “About the bases of the system of interaction of governmental bodies of the Russian Federation with non-governmental non-commercial organizations”, in which such modern social technologies as grant-giving competitions, social order, “the transparent budget”, fairs of the social projects, funds of local community, public councils and others would be regulated.

To supplement the Budget code by the norm about possibility of transfer of the budgetary funds to non-governmental non-commercial organizations realizing the state social order on a public competitive basis .

To provide the tax Laws with the norms which are taking into account specificity of non-commercial activities, including realizations of the state social order by non-governmental non-commercial organizations.

 

3. To accept the Federal Law on the Federal Commissioner for rights of the child and public supervision of observance of these rights.

For the last 15 years services of the Children's Rights Commissioner of this or that kind have been created in more than 30 countries, and it is obvious, that this country will not be able to put into practice the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child without creation of such a special “megaphone” for interests of 34 million of children of Russia. It is necessary to point out to an important positive step towards this course: since the beginning of 1998 in 6 regions of Russia the Commissioners on Rights of Children have been functioning, however, their activity isn't effective enough as it has neither legislative, nor organization and methodical provision. In particular, they have no effective instrument for making control over the observance of rights of children. The institute of public Supervisors should be established by the law as an instrument of effective revealing of violations of rights of the child in children's Institutions. The two traditional systems of control over the observance of rights of children in children's Institutions - by the higher bodies, i.e. through executive subordination, and Prosecutor's supervision - have proved their inability to ensure effective protection of rights of children, to prevent violence, humiliating treatment, etc. An Effective method of such a control over the observance of the pupil's rights at a children's Institution may be the realization of this control by public Supervisors enjoying the right to entering any children's Institution without warning, the right to talking with the pupils without witnesses, the right to getting access to the documentation, etc. The suggested system of public control over the observance of the rights of children will allow to speed up the involvement of civil society in the interaction with the state through activities of the Federal Commissioner for the rights of children.

 

4. To attach the funds for rehabilitation and education of the disabled child to his/her family. The means, given by the state for development and education of the disabled child, should be distributed not through long chains of the officers, and should be attached directly to the family. The means should be directed to the family as some kind of “vouchers”: i.e. in such a form which can be spent only for education and rehabilitation of the child, having directed those “vouchers” to a chosen organization or to a concrete certificated expert for work with the child.

This organizational and financial mechanism has been widely discussed for several years under different names - Rehabilitation-Educational Policy, nominal financial obligations etc., but the essence of it is the same: the means given by the state for the problem child should “be adhered” to the family of this child and the family should be the manager of these means. The parents should make their own choice of the organization where they will direct these means. Thereby, the family will not spend a lot of efforts to achieve the receipt of these means (as occurs now), and only will take care of how to spend them in a reasonable way. It will release some energy of the whole segment of civil society and will allow to create a necessary infrastructure of effective help to these children and of realization of their fundamental rights very quickly. Thus, all the active mechanisms, peculiar to civil society, are started: Parents' own activity and their care of the future of their child, activity of the professionals and other doers of non-commercial sector who are ready to establish necessary organizations in its framework. The state rehabilitation system will begin to develop positively In such a situation, having been put in competitive conditions.

 

5. To return to a Complex Federal target-oriented program “Children of Russia” the status of Presidential. To develop and to accept the indicated Program for the 2003-2007 period, having provided it with a system of competitions conducted for revealing and realization of appropriate innovative initiatives of profile non-governmental non-commercial organizations.

 

6. To work out and to realize a new independent Federal program “Children of the North”, providing the native small peoples of the North with effectual measures for protection of rights and legal interests of children and ensuring effective participation of their public in development, realization and control of financing and implementation of the Program.

 

7. To conduct a Prosecutor's investigation of the issue of not giving the right to citizenship to the children of turkish meskhetinetses  in the Krasnodar region.

 

 

ORGANIZATIONS and their representatives

PARTICIPATING In the preparation of the INDEPENDENT REPORT

 

Commission on Family and Childhood of Public-Political Association “Apple” (“Yabloko”)

117342, Moscow, 34/63 Obruchev st., оf. 213; phone: +7 095 334 4641 add. 106;

email: deti@yabloko.ru 

Leonid Shavelzon, chair

Anatoly Severny, co-chair

 

Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists

123056, Moscow, 18/15 Gruzinsky val, of. 23; phone/fax: +7 095 251 4306;

email: acpp@online.ru 

Anatoly Severny, president

 

Russian Charitable Foundation “No to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction” (Fund NAN)

117449, Moscow, 10 Shvernik st.; phone +7 095 126 3475, 126 0451, 126 5524; fax: 126-1064;

email: nan@nan.ru 

Oleg Zykov, president

Nodari Khananashvili, head of Juridical Service

 

Charitable Public Organization “Center of Curative Pedagogics”

117311, Moscow, 17a Stroiteley st.; phone/fax +7 095 131 0683, 133 8447, 138 0616;

email: ccpmain@online.ru

Roman Dimeshtein, chair of Board

 

Charitable Organization for Protection of Rights “Committee for the Civil Rights”

127562, Moscow, 7 Sannikov st., of. 21; phone/fax +7 095 478 9515;

email: komitet@cityline.ru 

Andrey Babushkin, chair

 

Charitable Organization for Assistance to the Refugees and Compelled Settlers

“Civil Assistance”

103030, Moscow, 33 Dolgorukovskaya st., build. 6; phone: +7 095 973 5474; fax: 251 5319;

email: ccaserver@mtu.ru ; sgannush@mtu.ru 

Anna Vershok, deputy chair

 

All-Russian Public Organization “Children's and Youth’s Social Initiatives” - DIMSI

129278, Moscow, 7a Pavel Korchagin st., of. 42; phone +7 095 283 8734, fax: 114 2289;

email: dimsi-ngo@mtu-net.ru 

Sergey Tetersky, president

 

Russian Association of Indigenous People of the North, (RAIPON)

117415, Moscow, 37, Vernadsky prosp., block 2, of. 527; phone/fax: (095) +7 095 930-4468;

email: raipon@online.ru ; udege@online.ru 

Larisa Abryutina, vice-president

 

Novorossijsk City Public Fund “School of Peace”

353901, Krasnodar region,. Novorossijsk, 14/4 Mira st.; phone/fax +7 8617 610-610;

email: sp-found@nvrsk.net 

Vadim Karasteliov, executive director

 

Khabarovsk Regional Branch of the All-Russian Public Movement “For Human Rights”

680000, Khabarovsk, 34 Frunze st. of. 8; phone/fax: +7 4212 304 276;

email: bechtold@mail.ru

Alexander Bekhtold, executive director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENT

DATA ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING

IN PREPARATION OF THE INDEPENDENT REPORT

(GIVING BY ORGANIZATIONS THEMSELVES)

 

Commission on Family and Childhood

of Public-Political Association “Apple” (“Yabloko”)

 

The Commission on the Family and Childhood of the PPA “Yabloko” began its informal functioning in February, 1999. In May, 2000 it was formed as the commission of the Central Board Bureau of the Association “Yabloko”.

At present the staff of the Commission has mainly been formed. For a short period of time the staff members have been able to do the following:

- drew up the program of the PPA “Yabloko” in the field of family and childhood issues (approved by the congress of the PPA “Yabloko” in January, 2000);

 - prepared the project of the typical regional law of the member entities of the Russian Federation on protection of children's rights and found the agreed position with the regional branches of the PPA “Yabloko”, concerning this project, (some regional branches have already started the procedure of its implementation);

- arranged functioning of the public Center for legal and social help to the child and his/her family;

- arranged and headed the activities of the most productively working NGOs on preparing the Independent Report to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on implementation of the world declaration and the Plan of Action of the World Summit for children.

An important feature of the Commission's activities is its orientation to progress of social changes through development of regional initiatives as well as building and consolidation civil society in Russia.

The priority directions of the Commission's activities are as follows:

- elaboration long-term policy and development of various initiatives for the strategies of the PPA's “Yabloko”  activities in the field of family and childhood issues;

 - elaboration and improvement the program statements about consolidation and development of the family as the basis of becoming a personality of full value and of advanced childhood - the principal values of the establishing civil society;

- elaboration  and creating organization conditions for realization of the program on urgent measures adequate to the demands of the society in the field of family and childhood protection;

-  arrangement of the legislative initiatives, connected with family and childhood issues, on federal, regional, and municipal levels;

- stimulation, coordination and giving organization assistance to the action of the regional branches of PPA “Yabloko” on implementation the program on family and childhood issues, approved by the Congress;

-  elaboration and creation of conditions for realization the all-federal projects promoting  liberalization of the family and childhood policy;

- providing organization and methodical support to the childhood and family protection projects of the regional branches of the PPA “Yabloko”;

- giving assistance in public opinion formation, concerning family and childhood issues, on the basis of liberal and  democratic ideas;

 - interaction with the legislative and executive bodies of federal, regional and municipal levels, with public associations, state organizations, and with separate Individuals on the strategies of the PPA “Yabloko”, concerning family and childhood issues.

Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists (ACPP)

 

ACPP (before re-registration worked by name Independent Association of Child Psychiatrists and Psychologists) has been established as professional public organization in 1992 by 12 child psychiatrists who worked in main clinics and research centers. The origin of creating ACPP was our dissatisfaction from conditions of help for mentally ill children, child psychiatric science in Russia. During 9 years number of members increased to 150; there are branches in 6 Russian regions and representatives in 15 regions including 3 former Soviet Republics (Kirgizstan, Lithuania, Estonia). ACPP unite broad circle of specialists – psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, social workers etc. ACPP is deciding one of main problem – to unite the all professionals who have interest to protect mental health of future generation of the state.

ACPP is executing the following scientific programs and practical programs: 1) Diagnostic of giftedness in schoolchildren; 2) Prevention of maternity abuses; 3) Prevention of school maladaptation; 4) Mental disorders in children who lives in zones of military conflicts; 5) Social-juridical protection of mentally disturbed children and their families; 6) Edition of first in Russia Reference Book of Child and Adolescence Psychology and Psychiatry; 7) Adaptation of leavers orphan’s home for independent life; 8) Remote education “Child social psychiatry for non-psychiatrists”, 9) Psychiatric and psychological service for children suffering from oncological illnesses; 10) Prevention of abuse in Russian school. ACPP are beginning edition of first in Russia interdisciplinary scientific and practical journal “The Issues of Mental Health of Children and Adolescents”.

ACPP is initiator and leading organizer of number all-Russian conferences on actual problems of psychiatric, psychological, social, pedagogic  problems of childhood: 1) Special Child and His Environment (1993); 2) Orphans in Russia: Problems, Hopes, Future (1993); 3) School Maladaptation: Emotional and Stress Disorders in Children and Adolescents (1995); 4) Intellectual and Creative Giftedness (1995); 5) Social Maladaptation: Behavioural Problems in Children and Adolescents (1996); 6) Children in Russia: Abuse and Protection (1997); 7) Social and Mental Health of Child and Family: Protection, Aid, Returning for Life (1998); 8) Orphans in Russia: Right of Child to Family (2001); 9) I International Congress in Russia on mental Health of Children (2001). In conferences was carried number of documents with appeal to governmental and legislative bodies concerning reforming of systems for assistance to maladaptive children. Materials of the all conferences was edited as books (each of its in number of 1000 copies), and was distributed among specialists. The all conferences was organized without registration fee for participants.

ACPP is taking part in legislative work of State Duma. Together Program @Right of Child ACPP stood up for with initiative for establishment of Service of Ombudsman for Children in Russia, elaborated project of model regional “Law on Protection of Children’s Right”. According offer one of Committee of State Duma ACPP elaborated Project of the Developing of Child Psychiatric Service. Together number of NGOs ACPP prepared Alternative Report on Implementation of Declaration on Right of Child in Russia and then presented this Report in the UN Committee on Rights of Child (Geneva, 1999).

In 1994 on XIII Congress of International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) in San-Francisco ACPP has become full member of IACAPAP on behalf of Russia. ACPP has working contacts also with other international organizations and professional associations of number countries – Great Britain, France, Lithuania, etc. ACPP members presented it in numerous congresses and conferences in Sweden, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Romania etc.

IACPP has get never any governmental financial support. The all programs of ACPP are realized by own initiative, or by means of grants.

 

 

Russian Charitable Foundation 

“No to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction” (NAN)

 

NAN was  founded in 1987. The Russian foundation status was confirmed in 1993 and it  has its representatives over 52 regions of Russia, Armenia, Germany, France,  Sweden and USA.

In 1998 NAN  was honored with the European-American Award of Democracy and Civil Society  that was introduced by European Community and the United States of America in commemoration of  the 50th Anniversary of Marshall Plan and the 40th Anniversary of signing Roman Treaty  for strengthening peace, development of democracy and human rights in Central and Eastern Europe and in CIS (ex-USSR).

The basic principle of NAN activities is influencing  through concrete actions upon those parts of society life that are part and parcel of our professional and public interest and most of all up to date.

NAN's work may be conditionally divided into 4 basic programs:

- Introduction of spiritual methods into anti-drug practical treatment

With this in mind treating center was established  for the basis on  which city groups “Anonymous Alcoholics”, “Anonymous Drug Addicts”, Al-Anon, stationary treatment programs are functioning. the Information center,  the special library and the information and consulting bureau  to the problem of drug addiction  were opened. NAN provides tuition, training and certification in the field of social work with the alcohol and drug addicts. For that a special educational establishment, teaching professionals in the field of social work, health care and psychology “Social Academy” was founded.)

- Building up system of medical, social and juridical help to children.

To realize this program the Foundation NAN had created the first in Moscow and one of the first in Russia refuge for homeless children in October of 1992. NAN specialists developed “the Principles of Rehabilitative Space (RS) for minors of target groups” that includes juridical, informational, managerial and educational aspects. Within the action on introduction and adjustment the RS model of information and consulting telephone services, programs “Crossroad” and “Steps” are formed in order to prevent drug addiction and rehabilitation of children and adolescents, apt to take drug substances and to other asocial behavior. There is hot line for adolescents and their parents. The Foundation takes an active part  in building up the system of juvenile juridical  norms  in Russian court practice as well).

- Reinforcing social progress and working out effective social policy in Russia.

While realizing this program the NAN takes part in broad enlightening activities of social organizations, successfully cooperates both with home and foreign mass-media. the Foundation NAN founded  a publishing-house and is one of the founders of the Agency for Social Information (ASI). Since 1995 the Foundation has been an associated member of the Organization of United Nations, a few other large international organizations. NAN takes an active part in law making activities (participation in the work under Law “On charity activities and charity organizations”, has initiated development and takes an active part in preparing the law project text “On state social order”, lobbied for adoption of a few other legislative and  regulating acts). NAN cooperates with State and Moscow Dumas, various Ministries and institutions of the Russian Federation and with the representatives of local authorities in the regions. The Foundation cooperates with different political leaders and political parties in the field of social policy).

- Introduction of  healthy way of life values into the society.

One of the basic purposes in store for the Foundation NAN is introduction into mass mind values of healthy way of life. With this in mind, a special group of professionals in the field of art, going in for  presentation of public events (presentations, exhibitions, charity acts and etc.), development of policy of interacting with mass-media, takes part in development of principles to get use of social advertising.

- Program of harm reduction.

Since 1998 the project “Jasen” has been under way. It allows Muscovites, including drug addicts, to get information on prevention from SID and hepatitis, methods to decrease harm from drug addiction habit, pass blood for SID-control, hepatitis and syphilis, pass tuition of safe behavior,  receive printed information and contraceptives.

- The Information and Technical Department.

The Department is responsible for providing informational interaction of the Foundation NAN and Its regional  branches, other non-governmental institutions, local authorities, state institutions, conducting  e-mail conferences, where there are over 100 non-governmental institutions, forming database of various kinds as well as development of communication systems and software to them. Our Web-site  will appear in the network in the first half of 2000 when we get direct access to INTERNET.

Charitable Public Organization “Center of Curative Pedagogics”

 

The Center was founded in 1989 by a small group of specialists and parents as a public charity organization.

Aim of the Center's founders was to help children with psychical and speech disorders that lived at home and have not been accepted by any schools because of their condition. The Center is one of the first non-governmental organizations in Russia that has directed its efforts towards ensuring that these children receive the highest possible level of development and education.

The Center's pupils – children with serious psychical and speech problems with different causes: organic brain damage; early childhood autism, schizophrenia, psychopathologies; epilepsy; genetic disorders; serious mental disabilities; severe neuroses, and others.

Specialists of different profiles provide help to the children. They include speech therapists, special teachers, psychologists, pedagogues, physical therapists, massage specialist, motion, art, music, and play therapists; neurologists, psychiatrists, pediatrician, etc.

The scope of the help. During the 12 years of work, more than 6500 children have received help at the Center. Presently, 250 children from newborns to teenagers 18 years old study in groups according to long-term special education programs; 100 others have a monthly consultation with specialists.

The following are some of the Center's therapeutic-pedagogical programs: help to children with severe speech disabilities; help to children with severe learning disabilities; preparing children with serious behavioral and emotional problems for school; helping infants (newborns to three-year-olds) with disorders of development; educating school-aged children considered "incapable of learning", “uneducable” in state educational institutions; out-patient counseling and treatment; therapy through crafts and decorative arts; pre-professional training of teenagers with serious disorders of development (ceramics, woodworking, and printing workshops); social adaptation and integration in summer tent camps, and others.      

Family support. Families that bring up special-needs children in Russia face enormous problems – social, psychological, pedagogical, etc. The Center's specialists provide parents with psychological, methodical, and informational support and help them see their own child in a new way and envision a promising future for the child and the entire family.

Training specialists: Colleagues from many cities in various regions of Russia take an active interest in the Center's work and experience it has acquired over the years. Since 1994 the Center has implemented large-scale programs and held seminars for the education and training of specialists working with handicapped children and directors of organizations providing rehabilitation services.

Publishing activities: Until recently, literature addressing the needs of children with serious psychical disorders of development hardly existed in Russia. Since 1995 the Center has begun publishing books and practical manuals for parents and teachers that work with such children; 16 editions have already been released and the Center has continued this line of activity.

The results of the Center's work have visibly widened accepted beliefs about the possibilities of rehabilitating children with serious psychological disorders; they have shown that such a child's condition will undoubtedly improve with proper, multi-faceted help. We have been able to convincingly show the possibility for successful preventative measures against disabilities. The Center presently appears as a working model of multi-faceted and professional services that provide help to children with acute disorders of development and as far as possible helps create similar services in many regions of Russia. The Center has successfully implemented different programs for the social adaptation and integration of special-needs children among their “normal” mates. The Center created the first integrative kindergartens and integrative school in Russia; in collaboration with the Moscow and local authorities it has continued to create and refine models of new kinds of educational institutions where children with the widest variety of developmental disorders will be able to study. The results of the Center's work have won recognition not only in Russia, but also abroad. We uphold constant ties with our colleagues abroad. Specialists and organizers of rehabilitation help from many parts of the world (U.S.A., Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, and others) have become acquainted with the Center's work. Mrs. Gore (USA) visited the Center two times and Princess Anne (Great Britain) was likewise among the Center's guests.

 

Charitable Organization for Protection of Rights

“Committee for the Civil Rights”

          

The Committee for civil rights is а regional legal charitable organization for Civil rights. It was established in 1996. The committee has 14 divisions, branches and representations acting on the territory of the  Russian Federation.

The goals of the organization are protection human and Civil rights and freedoms in Russia; rendering social and material help to the people in need.

The tasks of the Committee are:

 - giving assistance to children, prisoners, homeless people, women who have got in an extreme situation, victims of arbitrariness on the part of militia and public authorities, disabled people, pensioners;

-  legal education of citizens and officials;

-  assistance in elaboration fair legal acts, appropriate to the international standards in the field of human rights;

 - taking Preventive measures against violation of human rights;

 - Rendering social, pedagogical and material help to the categories of people, mentioned above.

The activity of the organization is carried out on the following directions:

- Public legal reception room - the service for human rights protection. Practical legal and social help is rendered to 20-30 people a day. Approximately 30 % of all consultations are in the interests of children;

 - The legal consultation by correspondence  assists by answering in written form. The number of letters is about 900 in a month. 70 % of the letters come from prisoners, about 15% from children and teenagers;

 - The service of visiting prisons, attending imprisoned people in penal colonies. There are three closed educational Institutions among them. Monitoring of the rooms for receiving packages for prisoners and visitors. It also Deals with the complaints by the prisoners and their families;

- The service for help to the released is created in August, 2000 on the grant of the International prison reform. The service provides those who have come out of prisons with all kinds of necessary help (documents, registration, job, restoring their rights, adaptation to every day life, etc.).

  There are also several services which pay a lot of attention to the most vulnerable categories of children in their activities as well. they are: the service for providing humanitarian help and supporting the Committee. the volunteer service of judicial support renders in exclusive cases (no more than 4-6 for a week) help on civil and criminal cases in courts where each second Individual receiving legal help in courts is a minor.

The weekly seminar “Legal Monday” is conducted to assist in learning legislation, stimulating discussions, concerning legal issues. 

The first in Russia since 1935 service of pedagogical support to minors by the teachers which participate in the interrogations of minors as accused, suspected, compliance, witnesses.

The service for minors being on probation.

The service of giving assistance to the orphan children who have run away from their legitimate guardians or from children's establishments in returning them home or to a children's establishment.

The students' volunteer center  involves future lawyers, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, medical workers, social workers in practical activities in the Services and divisions of the Committee.

The publishing center provides materials on legal issues for people's education.

 

Charitable Organization for Assistance

to the Refugees and Compelled Settlers “Civil Assistance”

 

In 1990 “Civic Assistance” was established for the purpose of providing aid to refugees and forced migrants.  It was the first public organization in Russia specifically designed to help this category of people.

From the very start, the “Civic Assistance” Committee has been providing refugees and forced migrants with legal assistance, public defense in court, assistance in establishing relations with official authorities, and the protection of their rights to housing, medical assistance, work and education.  For this purpose the Committee members maintain close contact with all the agencies and organizations that are involved in refugee issues: the federal and regional Migration services, the RF State Duma Commission on Refugees, the RF President’s Public Chamber, the offices of public prosecutors, and various education, health care and social security organizations.

The Committee is accredited at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and maintains regular ties with that body, as well as with other international organizations.

Committee members take part in numerous conferences, work-shops, and press-conferences that deal with the position of refugees in Russia.  The Committee studies cases of violations of the rights of forced migrants, sends corresponding queries to the organizations involved, and provides information to the parties concerned, including through the Internet.

Types of assistance provided

·        Legal assistance

·        Organizational and mediation support

·        Medical assistance

·        Humanitarian aid

·        Training and psychological support

The main problems the Committee hears from the refugees during the reception and most of the Committee’s correspondence deal with the provision of housing; registration, obtaining or loss of status; receiving citizenship; obtaining or restoring documents (passports, birth certificates); payment of compensation to migrants from Chechnya; and payment of pensions, grants, providing education, medical assistance.

To assist forced migrants in resolving the problems they are facing Committee members maintain constant contact with various government structures and international and non-governmental organizations.  Writing appeals, having telephone conversations, and making requests from Duma Deputies form the backbone of the Committee’s activity.

The activities of the Committee are funded in accordance with an existing agreement with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; through grants awarded by charity foundations for the implementation of specific projects; and through private donations, including donations from Committee functionaries (deducted from their salaries and royalties).  Russian organizations have recently started providing aid to the Committee and this gives rise to the hope that these noble acts on the part of Russian organizations will continue and will grow in numbers.

 

ALL-RUSSIAN PUBLIC ORGANIZATION

“CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH’S SOCIAL INITIATIVES” (DIMSI)

 

Motto of Organization - “Friendship! Mercy! Inspiration!”

The Dimsi organization was founded in 1989. It has 45.000 members and 500.000 volunteers.

To become a member of the organization one has to be trained at the Schools of social initiatives.

At the Schools of social initiatives one can learn:

- How to establish an organization;

- how to become a leader;

- how to create a program;

- how to raise funds;

- how to attract mass media.

DIMSI is registered at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation as a non-religious and non-political organization.

DIMSI is included into the Federal register of the youth and children's public organizations, supported by the state. DIMSI is an active member of the National Youth Council. DIMSI has partners in USA, Finland, Poland.

STRUCTURE: Conference (Once in two years) – President - Executive Committee - Regional Branches (In 50 Regions of total 89 in Russia) - Local organizations.

Activities:

- protection and promotion of rights and interests of children, teenagers and adolescents;

- creating an integrated model, supporting children's and youth public associations;

- providing children's and youth public associations with assistance in their activities through regular educational seminars and meetings;

- providing adolescents with jobs through specially created employment exchange and database;

- giving financial, organizational, legal, scientific, educational and other support to the DIMSI members.

Socially significant federal and regional DIMSI programs and projects are as follows: “Dialogue of Individuals”, “School of Civil Socie­ty", “The Young Generation Chooses a book”, “Social Work: Informa­tion and Education”, “Open Doors to Science”, “Youth without Pri­son Bars", “Returning to the Roots”, “Children and Youth's News­paper”; “About Ourselves”, “Contemporary Ecological Education of Children and the Youth”, “Big Brothers/Big Sisters”, “Helping the Children and Youth from Families of the Unemployed”,  etc.

The main part of finance is granted from foreign funds (50%). Organization is also supported by the state (30%), members’ fees  (10%) and others sponsor (10%).

 

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)

 

RAIPON was established in 1990 at  the First Congress of  Indigenous Peoples of Russian Federation. Association is aimed at protection of  human rights and legal interests of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of Russia, solution of social and economic problems, environmental and health issues, cultural development and education. It  is working to ensure rights for land use and  resources, as well as for self-government according to the international legal standards.

RAIPON is actively participating in development and implementation of the Federal State Program on Economic and Cultural Development of Indigenous Peoples. In cooperation with Parliament (State Duma) and Government of the Russian Federation RAIPON is working on legislation of the indigenous peoples’ living conditions and economy.

RAIPON comprises of more than 200.000 indigenous individual members, organized into 34 regional Association branches. Being the only umbrella organization representing 40 indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of Russian Federation. RAIPON believes it is important to have an opportunity to be an effective part of the decision-making process, which in the end will effect the lives and situations of not only indigenous peoples but  the entire society of Russia as well.

RAIPON is a permanent participant at the Arctic Council, established by the Arctic countries. Experts of the Association are participating in the permanent working groups of the Arctic Council on biodiversity conservation and protection from ecological disasters. RAIPON regularly takes part in sessions of the UN related to Indigenous issues. RAIPON has a Special Consultative status under the ECOSOC. RAIPON became a laureate of UNEP Global 500 Award in 1999.

Presently RAIPON is implementing a joint project with Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC-Canada) on development of self-government of indigenous peoples and economic development; in cooperation with Danish NGO a project on assistance to initiatives of the indigenous peoples of Russia in the field of environment, economy and education. RAIPON is involved in different international projects related to indigenous and environmental issues as a partner.

 

Novorossijsk city public fund “School of Peace”

 

The Novorossijsk City Public Fund “School of Peace” was founded in 13.01.98. The basic aim of the Trust is protection of rights and private interests of children and teen-agers happen to occur in a difficult situation. The Trust has a non-commercial status. We have our own bank accounts for Russian rubles and currency. We do not occupy commercial and other kinds of activities connected with getting the income from realization the services we are offering.

The main purposes of our activities:

1. Making an effective mechanism of the cooperation between regional authorities and NGOs working in the children's rights interests.

2. Increasing the level of this cooperation of NGOs in the Krasnodar Region.

3. Rendering influence on legislative process and administrative practice in the Krasnodar Region in a sphere of protection children's rights with the help of preparation, presentation of the reports and expert valuations in that issue, their distribution in the departments of legislative and executive authority by means of the preparation of the amendments and bills .

The main types of activity according to our projects:

1. Together with authorities;

- We organize public Hearings;

- We prepare, publish and spread the reference book with addresses of children who need help and our defense;

- We encourage and educate journalists in the sphere children's rights;

- We take part in amendments and bills on the regional level.

2. Holding monitoring violence children's rights in the Krasnodar region especially in the right free speech and opinion, discrimination children in ethnic indications, including violence children's rights of refugees and immigrants.

3. Attracting public attention, especially journalists, to the problem of the violence children's rights, spreading legal knowledge.

4. Consolidation of the Coalition “The rights to children”, increasing its status and competence.

Main sources of our financing - charitable help from the local businessmen and citizens, grants, municipal privileges, own contributions.

The Fund “School of peace” is a member of the Russian Net of NGOs for the observing European Social Charter, a member of regional Coalition “The Rights to Children”, and a member of the Russian Association Phones of Emergency Psychological Help.

 

Khabarovsk Regional Branch of the All-Russian Public Movement

“For Human Rights”

 

Khabarovsk Regional Branch of the All-Russian Public Movement “For Human Rights" was created in November, 20, 1997.  

The main directions of the activities of the organization are as follows:

- protection of underage citizens in preliminary and judicial investigations by the representatives of the organization as the Public Counsels for the Defence;

- protection rights of the disabled against violations;

- monitoring of the state of the penitentiary system in Khabarovsky region, protection the rights of prisoners;

- legal education of citizens through publications and interaction with Mass Media and also through participation at Conferences and seminars;

- elaboration and lobbying of the bill for the Human Rights Commissioner;

- participation in the project of the all-Russian Public Movement for human rights, public control on the activities of the bodies of Justice;

- monitoring of the procedure of elections and of observation the citizens' rights to elections during the elective companies;

- functioning of the public reception room for legal service in the city of Khabarovsk.