OHCHR in the Russian Federation (2008-2009)

Background

 
Following the agreement between the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of the Russian Federation, a human rights presence was established within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the Russian Federation in January 2006. The High Commissioner's two visits to the Russian Federation in 2005 and 2006 provided opportunities to consolidate and strengthen the cooperation with national partners. Throughout the year 2007, comprehensive consultations concerning content and form of longer-term cooperation to promote human rights in the Russian Federation took place with OHCHR’s counterparts in Moscow. As a result, a Framework for Cooperation with the Russian Federation for 2007 and beyond was elaborated and approved, through an exchange of letters between the High Commissioner and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 2007.

The Framework clusters around four areas:

- rule of law;
- equality and tolerance;
- education and information on human rights; and
- mainstreaming human rights within the UN Country Team in the Russian Federation.

In March 2008, a Senior Human Rights Adviser was deployed in Moscow to oversee and guide the planning and implementation of concrete activities within the agreed framework and as part of the UN Country Team. In the coming months, OHCHR presence is planning to establish partnerships and networks with government institutions at the central level and in Russia’s regions, UN agencies, civil society including NGOs, academia and other interested parties, to put the Framework into practice.  

2008-2009 Programme