Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 10 Apr 1998 15:34:12 -0700 (PDT)
CCSI presents excerpts from the Agency for Social Information
(ASI) e-mail information bulletin. Translated from Russian by
CCSI volunteer Alyssa Deutschler. 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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ASI Bulletin No. 10
March 13 -19, 1998
In this issue:
I. Confederation of Consumer Protection Agencies to Defend
Rights of Property Owners
II. Lesbians in St. Petersburg Begin Publishing Newsletter
III. Project to Monitor Media Rights Violations Starts Up in
Krasnoyarsk
IV. Voronezh Society for the Protection of Homeless Animals
Plans to Open Shelter
* * * * * * * * * * *
Confederation of Consumer Protection Agencies
to Defend Rights of Property Owners
On March 12 at the National Press Institute in Moscow, the
Confederation of Consumer Protection Agencies, together with the
State Anti-Monopoly Committee, held a press conference dedicated to
the International Day of the Consumer. The day, usually observed on
March 15, was established by former US president John F. Kennedy in
1962, after he gave a speech to Congress spelling out the four
fundamental rights of consumers: the rights to safety, choice,
information, and compensation for damages. The issue of consumer
rights has since been addressed by the UN Council on Human Rights
and was the subject of a recent radio address by President Yeltsin.
The Confederation of Consumer Protection Agencies (CCPA) is
launching their new project in conjunction with the International
Day of the Consumer. The project's purpose is to defend the rights
of property owners and those trying to purchase homes. According to
Aleksandr Auzan, head of the CCPA, property owners in Russia are
confronted with quite a few hazards. In the process of housing
privatization, many mistakes were made, particularly in regards to
proper paperwork and documentation. Thus, the legality of many
transactions remains in doubt. In addition to this problem, owners
are frequently unable to accurately verify or prove the legality of
their property purchases, which can prove problematic since the
current law dictates that ownership rights can be disputed for up to
ten years after a sale has taken place. Even more problems have
arisen in connection with the February, 1998 law "On governmental
registration of real estate and property transactions," as a result
of the difficulties encountered in creating an effective, reliable
system for registering sales and purchases.
The goal of CCPA's project is to get the government to take
responsibility for past mistakes in the realm of housing reform and
to provide more security for those who wish to buy or sell property.
CCPA will hold free legal consultations for buyers and sellers, as
well as events geared towards educating people about their rights.
The group will also carry out "monitoring" sessions in several
Russian cities, in order to evaluate to what degree owners' rights
are being upheld.
Vladimir Tsapelik, deputy chairman of the State Anti-Monopoly
Committee, emphasized that every consumer has a right to demand that
the legality of their property transaction be determined in a court
of law. In 1997 alone, anti-monopoly agencies in Russia brought
nearly 900 cases to be decided in the judicial system, and over 4
billion rubles in compensatory damages were awarded.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Lesbians in St. Petersburg Begin Publishing Newsletter
The first issue of "Labris," a free monthly newsletter for lesbians,
has just been published in St. Petersburg. The newsletter is the
first project embarked on by the Petersburg women's group "Labris."
The organization was created in 1996, when activists from two local
lesbian groups--"Sappho-Petersburg" and the "Independent Women's
Club"--joined forces. However, it was only in February of 1998 that
"Labris" was officially registered as an organization. Now,
according to an article in the "Labris" newsletter's inaugural
issue, it is time that lesbians in St. Petersburg "come out," not
only to declare their existence to the rest of the world, but also
to fight the inertia that plagues the city's lesbian movement.
Aside from the newsletter, "Labris" plans to open a lesbian resource
center in St. Petersburg, which will include a library, video hall,
and computer center. The group also plans to operate a telephone
hotline, which will answer questions and provide legal and
psychological advice.
The purpose of the "Labris" newsletter is to inform Petersburg
society about the gay community and to publish materials connected
with the lesbian rights movement. The editorial staff hopes that
the newsletter will allow lesbians to speak for themselves, in their
own voices, about their opinions and views. The first issue of
"Labris" features a section on news from abroad, an article entitled
"Is lesbianism a lifestyle choice or a biological fact?" and a
review of recent publications on the subject of homosexuality.
Questions about the "Labris" organization and newsletter, or the
future resource center can directed to the St. Petersburg Center on
Gender Problems at:
195196 Saint Petersburg
ul. Stakhanovtsev, d. 13, k. 415
or (812) 528-9293
* * * * * * * * * * *
Project to Monitor Media Rights Violations
Starts Up in Krasnoyarsk
The Krasnoyarsk branch of the Agency of Social Information (ASI) and
the Krasnoyarsk Glasnost Defense Fund have agreed to collaborate on
a project to circulate monthly monitoring reports on media rights
violations in Krasnoyarsk Krai. The Irkutsk branch of ASI will be
responsible for ciruclating a similar report throughout the Irkutsk
Oblast.
The Krasnoyarsk Glasnost Defense Fund was created in October, 1996,
as an independent regional center specializing in defending
journalists' rights. The group will work with ASI, the Glasnost
Defense Fund in Moscow, as well as with nine other human rights
organizations from across Russia, in realizing their latest project
to strengthen regional centers working on behalf of freedom of
speech and media rights in Eastern Siberia. The goal of the project
is to draw public attention to violations of journalists' rights and
to monitor and analyze trends in freedom of speech violations. The
comprehensive results of the monitoring reports will be published
yearly.
The Krasnoyarsk Glasnost Defense Fund also publishes a monthly
bulletin, "Legal Culture and Glasnost" (in cooperation with the Krai
Electoral Commission) which is available by request at the Fund's
offices.
Contact telephone: (3912) 23-4359
E-mail: [email protected]
* * * * * * * * * * *
Voronezh Society for the Protection of Homeless Animals
Plans to Open Shelter
The "Bim" Society for the Protection of Homeless Animals was
recently granted office space by the city government of Voronezh.
The Society began in 1997 with the goal of protecting stray animals.
The number of strays in the city has risen sharply in the past few
years and the animals� fates are often tragic--many strays are shot
or drowned. According to "Bim" staff, not long ago stray dogs were
destroyed at a local school in front of the young pupils. The "Bim"
Society intends to do away with such ruthless practices by opening a
shelter for stray animals.
Previously, the �Bim� Society had no office space and was working
out of one of their member�s apartments, which limited the scope of
the organization�s projects. But despite this limitation, �Bim�
members were quite active: for example, they put up posters
throughout Voronezh, calling for humane treatment of animals and
demanding that cruelty to animals be considered a crime. The
Society�s motto is: �Not every home needs a dog, but every dog needs
a home.�
Every Saturday �Bim� members meet with animal lovers on University
Square in Voronezh to discuss animal rights issues. Currently, the
organization is busy remodeling their new offices and working at the
site of the future animal shelter.
Contact telephone: (0732) 71-4142 (ASI Voronezh)
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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. Back issues are available |
| in both English and Russian language by following the |
| "Archives" link and choosing "ASI Bulletin Excerpts" |
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