Possible eviction of the Human Rights House Voronezh

The Human Rights House Voronezh, one of the members of the Human Rights House Network, may be left without premises, after the actions taken by the Voronezh city district administration. This would not only damage the entire group of organizations sharing the premises, but would also negatively affect the citizens who are in need of assistance.

–The Human Rights House Voronezh is far from being just a regional NGO – it is an unique civil society center, important not only for this part of Russia, but for the country in general and the whole OSCE region. It’s a pity that the city district administration authorities do not understand the importance of such a place for the development of the civil society and the strengthening of public dialogue in society. They should have given us their full support and respect instead of putting barriers to our work, says Anna Dobrovolskaya, human rights defender in the International Youth Human Rights Movement, which together with the Confederation of Free Labor had signed the rent contract for the Human Rights House Voronezh.

Anna Dobrovolskaya, human rights defender in the International Youth Human Rights Movement.

Well known

The Human Rights House Voronezh consists of several organisations, including youth organisations, working to ensure protection of the rights of citizens and the promotion of human rights. The activities of the participating organisations are known both in the Russian Federation and abroad, confirming the crucial role of civil society organisations in promoting mutual understanding and trust between the State and civil society.

Ceased leases

The pressure against Human Rights House Voronezh began in May this year; the two organizations received information from the Department of Property and Estate Relations of the Voronezh City Administration that their leases had been ceased and that they were to leave the premises. The Human Rights House Foundation then wrote a letter of concern to the Voronezh city district administration. The official reason cited in the local media is that the building shall be used as a youth centre.

Final decision

In August 2013, the Human Rights House Voronezh learned from the local authorities of Voronezh that the final decision not to prolong the rental agreement with the Human Rights House Voronezh had been taken despite appeals from numerous national and international organizations. the Human Rights House Voronezh have been told that the facilities are the only possible location for the youth centre, which already exists and functions. Furthermore, no relocation offer has been made to the NGOs working at the Human Rights House Voronezh.

Worrying situation

The attempt to evict the Human Rights House Voronezh is worrying, given the situation faced by independent human rights organizations in the Russian Federation. On 14 May 2013, three United Nations independent human rights experts expressed serious concern at the “obstructive, intimidating and stigmatizing effects” brought about by the new legislations on NGO’s and declared as unacceptable this increasingly hostile environment for NGOs.

In a letter to the Governor of the Voronezh region,  Aleksey Gordeev, the members and partners of the Human Rights House Network have urged the city district administration to ensure that the Voronezh city district administration either cancels the termination of the rent agreements or extends the rent agreement with the International Youth Human Rights Movement and the Confederation of Free Labor.