Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 16 May 1997 14:25:05 -0700 (PDT)
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 17 (126)
25 - 29 April 1997
In this issue:
I. The Initiative Group "Common Action" Calls Russians to the
Struggle for Human Civil and Economic Rights
II. The Special Olympics Movement for Developmentally Disabled Children
is Established in Russia
III. The International Association "The Family and Health" Offers
Free Services to Muscovites
I
The Initiative Group "Common Action" Calls Russians to
the Struggle for Human Civil and Economic Rights
On April 25, 1997, several well known human rights and social activists in
Russia (Liudmila Alekseeva, Elena Bonner, Larisa Bogoroz, Sergei Kovalev,
Valerii Borshchev, Valerii Abramkin, and others) created the Initiative
Group for Unity in the Defense of Civil and Economic Rights in the Russian
Federation ("Common Action"). By 1998, the 50th anniversary of the
adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the group plans to
develop an "Action Program for Nongovernmental Organizations." At its
first meeting the initiative group adopted an appeal in which it called
the citizens of Russia to active work in the struggle for human civil and
economic rights.
In particular the appeal states:
"The initiative group 'Common Action' will publicize facts of violations
of human rights, political persecution, torture, and illegal arrests. It
will support initiatives aimed at legal education, at people's defense of
the right to an adequate wage for their labor, at the creation of social
mechanisms for the realization of human civil and economic rights under
current conditions, at the creation of forms of social control of the
actions of the authorities and law enforcement agencies, and at bringing
Russian legislation into compliance with the basic principles of the
[Universal Declaration of Human Rights].
"We see the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration as a time of
active work by Russian society for human civil and economic rights.
"Only the actualization of these rights can be the basis for the creation
of a state based on law and can prevent a return to totalitarianism in
Russia."
Telephone: 206-8684; 206-8276
II
The Special Olympics Movement for Developmentally
Disabled Children is Established in Russia
"Once upon a time there lived in the United States a woman named Eunice
Kennedy-Shriver, from the famous presidential family the Kennedys. One
day she decided to gather at her home in Maryland some not very healthy
little boys and girls and to play sports with them in their own way. And
a miracle happened! The little boys and girls, brought together by
physical activity, grew healthier. They gradually gained confidence in
their own abilities, and through sports learned the joy of friendship."
This is how the general director of the Russian Special Olympics program
Tat'iana Aleshina began her report on the International Special Olympics
Organization (the Special Olympics).
Today the Special Olympics movement can be called universal. It unites
more than 150 countries. The movement is recognized by the International
Olympic Committee. Millions of people with developmental disabilities who
have participated in it have ceased to feel isolated in society and have
gained hope of happiness.
The movement has its own philosophy and traditions. The basic condition
for a Special Olympics program in a country is that it organize year round
training exercises in 23 Olympic sports. Participation in competitions is
also required. The motto for these competitions is: "Everyone can
succeed!"
In Russia, the Special Olympics movement is being actively developed in 30
different regions. The Special Olympics in St. Petersburg and Moscow are
particularly successful, along with those in Omsk, Yaroslavl, Volgograd
and Saratov oblasts, and the Republics of Karelia and Marii-El.
Approximately 1,500 Russian children have joined the Special Olympics. In
Moscow alone nearly all of the special schools and children's homes and
some of the psychoneurological clinics have joined as well.
"Our movement's specific character is that in it training and exercises
are to occur according to a particular system, lest they lose their
effectiveness," says Tat'iana Aleshina. "For this reason, when financial
contributions unexpectedly fall short, which happens often, we rely on
the dedication of our coaches. We get most of our governmental support
from the Russian Federation Committee on Physical Culture and Tourism,
which gives financial support to all of our activities, and from the
Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Nonetheless we dream of
finding a permanent sponsor, so that we might be a bit more confident of
tomorrow."
Today the Russian Special Olympics is evaluating its five years of
activity. Judging by the results of the World Special Winter Olympic
Games, which took place in February 1997, in Toronto, the Russian team is
something to talk about. Russian athletes participated in all sports and
brought home 50 gold medals from Canada.
III
The International Association "Family and Health"
Offers Free Services to Muscovites
The international association "Family and Health" has existed since 1993.
Its director is Irina Alexandrovna Manulova, a Corresponding Member of the
Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, a professor, and one of Russia's
leading gynecologists and endocrinologists.
The association's basic task is to improve the qualifications of medical
personnel who deal with the reproductive health of the population.
Problems of infertility, gynecological and sexually transmitted diseases,
and teenage pregnancy and its prevention are the topics of lectures and
seminars conducted by the members of the association in Moscow and
throughout the country.
In addition, the members of the association, who are highly qualified
gynecologists, conduct free examinations and treatment for young people to
the age of 19, newlyweds, single mothers and mothers with many children,
the disabled, wives and widows of veterans of the Afghanistan war,
participants in the Chechen war, and those working on the aftermath of the
Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Appointments are available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the
association's offices at Denezhnyi per., d. 24, str. 3 (take the Metro to
the Smolenskaia station).
The association is interested in working with social organizations dealing
with problems of sex education for young people and issues of the
reproductive health of the population.
Telephone: 241-0306; 241-9264; 241-6682.
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| CCSI presents excerpts from the ASI Bulletin. The |
| ASI Bulletin is a publication of the Agency for Social |
| Information (ASI) in Moscow. Originally published in |
| Russian, selected stories are translated and posted to |
| the CCSI listserv "CivilSoc." English and Russian |
| archives are available on the CCSI Web site at: |
| |
| http://www.friends-partners.org/~ccsi/ |
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