Human rights in Russia

Human rights abuses in North Caucasus are continuing, and spreading, due to almost complete impunity. The Russian authorities use threats as an excuse for adopting anti-democratic laws, and strangle all possibilities of public control over state activities.

Organising a Queer Culture Festival – in cooperation with Coming Out

LGBT persons face daily discrimination in Russia, both in daily life as well as by legislation. We cooperate with the St Petersburg based organisation Coming Out to increase the understanding for LGBT persons. One activity this year is to organise an an international Queer Culture Festival in St Petersburg in September.

Strengthening human rights defenders in Russia – in cooperation with Committee Against Torture

During 2009 the human rights situation in North Caucasus worsened significantly and in order to maintain presence on the ground, a group of human rights NGOs decided to organize mobile visits to the region, especially Chechnya, monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. Human rights defenders will be offered training in security awareness when going on missions to North Caucasus.

Working for the rights of people under guardianship – in cooperation with Mental Disability Advocacy Centre

Within the Russian society people with mental disabilities are marginalised and excluded from almost every aspect of life. In cooperation with Mental Disability Advocacy Centre we lobby towards the Russian authorities to prompt them to comply with national and international legislation.

Documenting human rights violations in North Caucasus – in cooperation with Memorial

Documentation of human rights violations is crucial in the struggle to put an end to impunity and to strengthen the rule of law. In cooperation with Memorial we now seeks to establish an archive of human rights violations, consisting of all of their collected materials in North Caucasus.

Combating impunity for human rights abuses in Chechnya – in cooperation with Russian Justice Initiative

The situation in Chechnya has been characterised by grave human rights abuses, including forced disappearances, extra judicial killings and torture. Together with RJI we launch legal proceedings before Russian institutions and the European Court of Human Rights and provide direct legal consultations for victims and their relatives on ways of defending their rights.

Strengthening the LGBT movement – in cooperation with the LGBT Network

In cooperation with the Russian LGBT Network we support LGBT groups and organisations all over Russia with capacity building, legal counselling and organisational development. Although Russia has taken some very important steps in the right direction, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is widely spread in the society.