Human Rights Group Profiles

The following information has been provided by Colleen F. Halley, MAIS, University of Washington and IREX fellow: [email protected]

What once was referred to as the human rights movement in Russia can be characterized today as a human rights community. As opposed to the loosely organized actions of political dissent by intellectuals which dominated the 1960s and 1970s, today's human rights activity in Russia takes a much more organized form. This is the result not only of legal changes over the past two decades which allow for official recognition of associations and groups outside of the state, but also of the more mature nature of the activists and organizations themselves. The result is a community of human rights groups, each focusing on individual rights issues within a broader context of universal human rights advocacy.

Human rights groups in Russia today range a great deal in size, shape and scope of their work. More and more, regional human rights centers are appearing in cities across Russia, providing central coordination for human rights activity at the regional level. Although groups located in major cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg are generally more highly developed both organizationally and financially, groups outside of urban centers are beginning to develop and gain more experience. Much of this development in the regions is the direct result of outreach and training programs administered by a number of Russian and international NGOs. Information channels between the regional groups and central (Moscow and/or St. Petersburg) groups are providing new opportunities for activity and cooperation among groups.

What follows below are organizational profiles of major human rights groups in Russia today. These groups provide a good overview of the scope and nature of human rights activity today in Russia. Since these are some of the largest groups, most are located in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Many, however, have active chapters throughout Russia.

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