Human Rights Organizations of Russia

What are human rights organizations of the Russian Federation? What are they doing? This article will answer these and other questions.

The concept of a human rights organization

Probably every Russian citizen heard about the existence of non-state funds whose purpose is to ensure the protection of human rights and freedoms. Such organizations do not bring profit, and all their functions are humanistically directed. On the territory of the Russian Federation, human rights organizations are formed, as a rule, by opposition structures. Such funds are directed to reduce the organized violence that the state can carry out. It is also worth adding support for political prisoners, disseminating information about the freedoms and rights of citizens, legal education, as well as investigating specific facts of violations by the authorities.

A large number of organizations under review in Russia is either suppressed, or even completely closed. There are many reasons for this. However, they can be understood by drawing attention to the subject of regulating human rights funds.

The subject of control and tasks

Human rights organizations of Russia have one well-defined subject of regulation. This is the real policy of the state in the sphere of human rights and freedoms. This includes various decisions, inaction or actions of authorized structures or officials, during which there is a violation of the legal freedoms and rights of a citizen. The subject of regulation is also the illegal deprivation of human freedom.

If we talk about the tasks that human rights organizations are supposed to solve, then the following is worth emphasizing:

• Protection of constitutional human rights and freedoms;
• Increase among citizens the level of legal culture, the promotion of values that could contribute to respect for a person, his rights;
• Analysis of the situation of human rights in different parts of the country;
• Comparison of the legal situation in Russia with other states.

Consideration of applications

How to solve all the tasks that were outlined above? Only through the qualitative implementation of a certain number of functions.

The main and mandatory function of any human rights organization is the timely consideration of applications from legal entities or individuals, as well as from various kinds of associations. The statements specify specific facts of non-observance of freedoms and human rights enshrined in the Russian Constitution, international or national legislation. The funds inform the applicant about his legal rights, as well as give advice on the possibilities of using legal protection. At the same time, human rights organizations can act as intermediaries for restorative and conciliation legal procedures.

Subsequent work

After the competent consideration of applications from a person, human rights funds are required to initiate an investigation into the accused structure. Specific facts should be collected that testify to violations of human rights and freedoms. After the facts have been collected, the process of processing applications is being submitted to the competent authorities (courts or prosecutor's office). If the Russian courts refuse to consider the case, then the application is submitted to international organizations.

Subsequently, human rights foundations express public censure or otherwise spread information about the incompetence of an authority. Notes are made in the media, facts of violations are laid out on the general overview.

It is also worth noting that human rights organizations for human rights can participate in trials and on the side of protection. This refers to cases where a person, in the opinion of funds, is subject to unlawful liability (criminal or administrative).

Information materials

The duties of human rights organizations include the collection, processing and distribution of various information materials. Such materials include:

• Domestic legislation of the Russian Federation (as well as certain norms of international law), comments on legislation, relevant court decisions and their interpretation;
• Domestic and international mechanisms aimed at protecting freedoms and human rights;
• Information about the human rights organization itself.

In addition, non-governmental human rights organizations are engaged in educational and educational activities. To do this, they produce various kinds of brochures, audio and video recordings, films, methodological materials, curricula, etc. Special attention should be paid to holding special seminars, lectures and competitions for the younger generation.

The first group of Russian funds

Now it is worth to tell about what public human rights organizations exist in Russia today. Next, a brief description of the most famous and large organizations existing in the Russian Federation will be given.

Foundation "In Defense of the Rights of Prisoners". It's not a secret for anyone that the prison conditions in today's Russia are terrifying. Endless media reports of torture, forced interrogation or self-incrimination only aggravate the situation. The represented fund is a fairly well-known organization whose purpose is to fight for the legitimate rights of persons serving their sentences in places of imprisonment.

Foundation for Human Rights. Established in 1997, the organization represented has become the largest in the field of protecting human rights and freedoms. The motto of the fund is "Justice, Justice, Compassion".

The second group of Russian funds

"The Committee Against Torture" was a fairly well-known organization in the territory of the Russian Federation. The Foundation fought ill-treatment towards citizens by public services. The Committee provided financial, medical and legal assistance to victims of torture. In 2015, the fund self-destructed due to pressure from the authorities, but in 2016 continued to work under a different name.

"The Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia" is also a human rights fund. Formed in the time of the Afghan war, the organization became the largest union of women whose sons were killed or suffered in the course of military service.

"Glasnost Defense Foundation" is a well-known organization that promotes freedom of speech in Russia. The organization advocates the democratization of the information sphere, for the lack of censorship and the development of non-state channels.

International human rights organizations

Probably the most famous and large international organization is the "Memorial" community. This is a large-scale scientific and cultural movement dedicated to preserving the memory of political repression. The presented fund operates on the territory of a large number of European countries. In Russia, the organization was "stigmatized" a foreign agent.

What other international human rights organizations should be distinguished? It is impossible not to mention, perhaps, the most famous and ancient fund, which unites many countries: Amnesty International (Amnesty International). The main purpose of this fund is to conduct a series of studies and actions aimed at preventing and stopping violations of human rights and freedoms throughout the world. The organization disseminates information on freedom of conscience, immunity, freedom of expression, etc.