From Apri, 14 to May, 11 an exhibition “Human rights in Russia” organized by the Russian Research Center for Human Rights under the aegis of the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Russian Federation is being held in the Museum of Contemporary History of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The exhibition is a part of the big project “Getting the younger generation involved in protection of human rights, due to development the volunteer movement” carried out by the Center with the help of the European Union. (28-APR-06)
Text and photos: HRH/ Moscow, Yanina Savenko
The exhibition is the unique wide-range project in which all organizations-members 
of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights are involved. The exhibition represents materials concerning problems of unprotected groups of population such as children, orphans and disabled persons, victims of armed conflicts and military service in time of peace, mentally disabled persons, prisoners and others, whose rights have been often violated. Besides, materials about activities of human rights organizations and concrete examples of their successful activities in protecting human rights are exhibited there. The exhibition includes the following sections: “The Human Being and Jail”, “Human Rights and Psychiatry”, “Childhood Territory”, “The Army and Human Rights”, “Ethnic and Confessional Issues in the North Caucasus” and etc.
Success in spite of the oppression
Human rights organizations have never had such an opportunity to present to general public results of their work during the last ten years. And the public has never had an opportunity to study activities of human rights activists so closely and to form its own opinion (which isn’t based on TV programs) about these outstanding personalities and their activities. Organizers pointed out that the exhibition had been opened in spite of the oppression and suits against the Center brought by the authorities. It’s a great success of human rights activists.
Collaboration with authorities is necessary
Within the framework of the exhibition many round tables, discussions and lectures are held directed especially to young people. For example, members of the Union of Committees of Soldiers Mothers of the Russian Federation have organized the discussion “Does the Russian Federation Need a Professional Army or Not?”, the Moscow Helsinki Group has prepared the round table “Teenagers and police”, “Right of Child” Organization is going to hold discussions on the subjects “Reconciliation Program in Schools”, “How to realize a right of the child to the family?” and others. On the basis of the exhibition the organizers also hold meetings with representatives of the state authorities, considering that human rights activists should carry on a regular dialogue with authorities and to collaborate with them.
Looking for volunteers
The head of the representation of the European Union in the Russian Federation Marc Franco at the ceremonial opening of the exhibition said that the European Commission would continue to finance Russian public organizations in spite of the fact that the Russian government had been strengthening its control over NGOs activities. In the course of the year the exhibition will be held in other regions of the Russian Federation. In such a way the RRCHR hopes to arouse interest of the youth in activities for protecting human rights and to recruit new volunteers for charitable work in human rights organizations.
