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2-3rd
March 2006
EU-Russia
Human Rights Consultations
Тhe third round of the intergovernmental
consultations between representatives of European Union
and the government of the Russian federation was held in
Vienna, Austria. It was devoted to the most pressing
issues in regard to human rights observance in the EU
and Russia as well as cooperation between them in the
sphere of human rights. On
2 March representatives of Russian and
international
NGOs,
including Forum members Usam Baisaev from
„Memorial“, Eliza Moussaeva of the „International
Helsinki Federation“ and the Forum secretariat,
held a meeting with European diplomats before the
beginning of official consultations.
The
meeting lasted for more that three hours. Participants
discussed a number of issues, including on-going
violations of human rights in the Chechen Republic,
restrictive amendments to NGO law that come into force
in April this year as well as the rise of racist and xenophobic sentiments in Russian society. The
official Russian delegation was also invited to attend
the meeting but they refused to participate.
*
Report
by Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship
*
EU
press release (pdf)
22-23rd
February 2006
In
commemoration of the 23rd February 1944 deportation
Forum
members based in Chechnya and Ingushetia organised a
roundtable on 22nd February in the State Library in
Grozny on the theme "From deportation to this day -
62 years of untruth about Chechens". Alongside
other local NGOs and representatives from the media,
they decided to implement a series of actions against
the discrimination Chechens face in the Russian mass
media.
The
first of these actions was a demonstration at the
memorial complex in central Grozny commemorating the
victims of Stalin's deportation on 23rd February 1944
where at least 300 people took to the streets, many of
them women carrying photographs of
"disappeared" relatives. The event also marked
the start of collecting signatures for the media
petition. Amongst other actions to be implemented during
the following month are nominations for the "Black
pen of Russia" award.
*
22nd
February roundtable report by SNO
*
23rd
February demonstration report by SNO
Forum
events in commemoration of the deportation were also
part of the global initiative "World Chechnya
Day". For more information on this initiative and
all the events which took place around the world please
see www.worldchechnyaday.org.
17th
and 19th February 2006
Meetings
with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Representatives
of the Forum met with the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Louise Arbour, before and during her official
visit to Russia. At the briefing in Geneva, a selection
of international human rights NGOs highlighted the most
important aspects for consideration during the
Commissioner's up-coming visit. Concerns regarding the
local NGOs with whom the Commissioner was scheduled to
meet in Chechnya and Ingushetia were also raised.
Although
for a limited time only, the Nazran' office of Memorial
was able to hold a small meeting with the Commissioner
on Monday 19th February. Victims of human rights
violations, Forum members and other local NGOs were
invited in order to present as real a picture as
possible to the Commissioner about the conditions in
Chechnya.
December-March
2006
Forum project development
In
accordance with the plan of action
as
adopted at the founding conference, Forum activities
follow three principal directions:
- Development
of the competence and role of the NGO sector both in
the region and on an international level
- Humanitarian
and social assistance
- Promotion
of the observance of international law in the
conflict
The
following projects
are currently being elaborated by Forum members and the
secretariat:
- Creation
of communication site and internet tool for Forum
members
- Provision
of computer equipment to local NGOs
- Training
in project management for local NGOs
- Group
mediation and psychological assistance for Forum
members
- Monitoring
of needs in educational, health and environment
sectors - elaboration of concrete projects such as:
translation
and publication of children’s materials into
Chechen / Russian
- Provision
of legal assistance to victims of rights violations
- Systematisation
of documentation relating to violations of
international law
- Mobilising
international networks to support peace in Chechnya
- Evaluation
of the situation for Chechen asylum-seekers in
Europe and assistance in individual cases
- Informational
events in Europe (film screenings, photo
exhibitions, cultural events)
If
you have any suggestions for collaboration or any new
ideas (Forum activities may be flexible but should fall
within the 3 main spheres as listed above), we would be
very happy to hear from you – please contact the Forum
secretariat.
21-24th November 2005
Forum project management training in
Pyatigorsk, Russian Federation
A
3-day training in the organisational, fundraising and
legal aspects of project management was conducted by
trainers from the British Foundation, Charities Aid
Foundation (CAF) Russia, NGO
School. This forms one part of the core
training for Forum members who wish to improve their
competences in this field. The training was attended by
22 participants from Chechnya, Ingushetia and Moscow
(Forum members and their replacements).
18-21st
September 2005
Foundation of the Chechen Civil Society
Forum in Bern, Switzerland
The
Forum was officially founded by 25 Chechen delegates during a
two-day
public conference in the presence of international
observers and other guests. They adopted a statute
and plan of action, as well electing the
coordination committee and secretariat of the Forum.
Opening
speech by Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, Member of the Swiss Parliament, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe, President of the Society for
Threatened Peoples Switzerland
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