Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Tue, 24 Dec 1996 16:09:21 -0800 (PST)
CCSI presents excerpts from the Agency for Social Information (ASI) e-mail
information bulletin. Translated from Russian by CCSI volunteer Tom
Sorenson, J.D., Ph.D., Edmonds, Washington, USA. For more information on
how to receive ASI's bulletin regularly, contact:
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AGENTSTVO SOTSIALNOI INFORMATSII
Kutuzovskyi pr. 22 pod. 14a,
Moscow, 121151
Tel./fax: (095) 249-3989
E-mail: [email protected]
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N 50
December 10-16, 1996
IN THIS ISSUE:
I. Realizing a Program of Social Reforms in Russia by the
Year 2000 is Problematic
II. "The Bee" on the Internet
III. The Municipal Court of Kimra has Recognized the Right of
Sergi Rebrov, A member of the Radical Party, to
Conscientious Objector Status
IV. Krasnoyarsk: The Nonprofit Organization "Echo" (USA)
Opens a New Center for Assistance for Civil Activities
I
Realizing a Program of Social Reforms in Russia by the
Year 2000 is Problematic
A parliamentary hearing took place on December 10 titled "A Program of
Social Reforms in the Russian Federation For The Period 1996-2000." The
program was developed by a state commission led by V. Chernomyrdin.
Leaders of ministries and independent social foundations, the Russian
Academy of Sciences, State Duma deputies, and leaders of unions and social
organizations for veterans and people with disabilities also took part in
the work of the commission.
In the opinion of the members of the commission, conducting round tables
on various topics with the participation of social groups of experts made
possible the development of a clear program of action for the quickest
possible deliverance from the crisis in the social sphere. One of the
causes of the crisis is the chronic shortage of state funds, which limits
the state's capabilities in this area. People's income level at this time
is roughly 40% lower than it was in 1991, and around one quarter of the
population have incomes below the minimum necessary for survival.
Inadequate financing has greatly intensified the problems of supporting
state institutions in the areas of education, science, culture, and public
health.
The program contemplates reforms in the area of labor and labor relations
and the solution of the problems of employment and unemployment...
Especially singled out were a policy on migration, the formation of a
system of social insurance and pensions for citizens, and improving the
system of social security for the population... Separate parts of the
program are dedicated to reforms in the system of education and public
health and also in the realms of culture, sport, and relaxation.
Opinions at the hearing on the program under discussion differed. The
authors of the program, noting its positive aspects, expressed confidence
in the possibility of its realization in the contemplated period. Others
who spoke, including the leader of the State Duma committee on labor and
social policy S. Kalashnikov and the leader of the committee on public
health N. Gerasimenko as well as Duma deputy E. Pamfilova, made a series
of critical observations... .Mr. Kalashnikov in particular noted that
"this program has no conception of the minimum income necessary for
survival nor of minimum wages, pensions and allowances. The initial link
in this little chain of social programs and reforms should be [providing]
the minimum necessary to live on. The program contemplates resolving the
problems as early as 1996. The year has passed, and we could have hoped
for better progress. The government's program is very unrealistic." In
his presentation Mr. Gerasimenko noted that "Russia ranks 43rd among the
nations of the world in gross per capita income. Our death rate is very
high. A depopulation is taking place. In 1940 there were 4 to 5 workers
for every person who did not work. In 1996 there are only 1.8. By 2005
in Russia it will be impossible to conduct a normal military draft because
of the low birth rate and negative democratic progress."
At the end it was noted that the program of social reforms to the year
2000 that had been prepared is necessary, important, and socially
significant, but its realization remains problematic.
II
"The Bee" on the Internet
The monthly journal of the activities of nongovernmental organizations
"The Bee" and the company Nevalink, one of the oldest Internet service
providers in St. Petersburg, have started a common Internet program called
"Charity." Through this project, Nevalink will connect a number of
disabilities organizations of the city to the Internet�. Nevalink will
also pay for the use of global cybernetic resources, if only in a small
amount.
It is gratifying to note that The Bee, which has become popular but which
is published in small numbers, will become accessible to users of global
networks. At the end of December not only those associated with social
security organizations in St. Petersburg, but all users of the World Wide
Web and fortunate e-mail users will have access to this information
resource, which is unique for Northwest Russia.
The Internet address for The Bee on the World Wide Web will be:
http://www.spb.ru/ptchela. You may subscribe by e-mail (a simple letter
to the address [email protected]).
III
The Municipal Court of Kimra has Recognized the Right
of Sergi Rebrov, a Member of the Radical Party,
to Conscientious Objector Status
On December 5 the municipal court of Kimra (Tver oblast), under the
chairmanship of Judge Dmitrii Vlasov, decided to grant the appeal of
draftee Sergei Rebrov from an unlawful action of the draft board. On
October 23 of this year Radical Party member Rebrov informed the draft
board of his refusal to perform military service on the basis of his
convictions and demanded that he be given alternative civil service in
accord with Article 59, Section 3, of the Constitution of the Russian
Federation.
As usual, the draft commission denied this request, citing the lack of a
statute on alternative civil service. [Translator's note: During the
Soviet period, rights specified in the constitution were unenforceable in
the absence of a statute implementing them.] On October 30, Mr. Rebrov
appealed this unlawful action of the draft commission to the municipal
court. Now under the decision of the court, conscientious objectors have
received a deferral of military service until a law on alternative civil
service, the first reading of which took place in the State Duma as far
back as 1994, is adopted.
The Procurator of the city of Kimra, Mr. Tatintsev, said in his
presentation [to the court] that although he does not personally share Mr.
Rebrov's convictions, nonetheless his demands are absolutely in accordance
with law since they are based on the Constitution, and he asked the court
to grant the appeal.
Contact telephone for the Radical Party: (095) 293-9127; e mail:
[email protected], , [email protected].
IV
Krasnoyarsk: The Nonprofit Organization "Echo" (USA) Opens
a New Center for Assistance for Civic Activities
Parents and teachers interested in issues of democratic instruction and
the development of civil society may seek assistance from the Center for
Assistance for Civil Activities. The task of the center is instruct
pupils in democratic principles, inculcate democratic values in everyday
life, and create civil society at the local level.
In [the Center's] library and reading room you can find various materials
in Russian and English on a wide range of issues on the theory and method
of teaching in the area of civil education, democratic instruction, and
the development of civil society.
The Center's staff provide individual consultation to teachers and parents
at any time without prior appointments, assist in establishing connections
with Russian and foreign colleagues, and every month conduct meetings of
discussion groups.
The opening of the center was made possible thanks to the support of the
Department of Public Education of the Sovietskii Region and School No. 149
in Krasnoyarsk.
The address of the Center for Assistance for Civic Activities is
Krasnoyarsk, ul. Vesny, d. 9a.
Contact telephone: (3912) 21-57-06 (Albert Decie or Tat'iana
Buinovskaia). E mail: Buinovskaia). E mail: [email protected].
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