[CivilSoc] Comments Sought on USAID Russian Human Rights Program

[Civil Society International]

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Network of East-West Women
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Laurie MacDonald Brumberg
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Draft No. 118-02-001
Issue Date: November 30, 2001
Closing Date: December 19, 2001
Closing Time: 16:00 hrs Moscow Time
SUBJECT: RUSSIA HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM - DRAFT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Ladies/Gentlemen:
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATION. USAID/Russia is preparing for
issuance of an Annual Program Statement (APS) for its Human Rights Program
in Russia. We are soliciting comments from interested parties, in order to
further refine this draft Program Description (PD). Your comments on the
attached draft will be appreciated and considered as we finalize the
solicitation for applications. The Human Rights Program will develop and
implement programs designed to:
1. Enhance provision of legal assistance in cases of alleged human rights
abuses and improve enforcement in the courts.
2. Increase influence over public policy by Russian human rights NGOs.
3. Improve understanding of and demand for the protection of human rights
and perception of Russian human rights NGOs.
Under the direct guidance of the USAID/Russia Mission through the Program
Office, the implementer shall provide Public Education activities that
increase awareness of the areas of reform supported by the strategic
objectives of the USAID/Russia Mission, including, Democracy and Governance,
Rule of Law, and Humanitarian Response/Social Transition. No information on
Pricing, Competition, Instructions to Applicants or Evaluation Criteria is
available at this time. Please refrain from submitting questions or requests
for clarifications in regards to these items, as responses will not be
provided. However, comments and supported
suggestions will be considered and appreciated. The primary goal is to
solicit comments/suggestions on contents of the PD.
Comments will be accepted until December 19, 2001. All comments shall be
addressed to:
Alexander Borzov, Senior Acquisition Specialist, American Embassy Moscow,
USAID/Russia, 19/23 Novinski Blvd, Moscow 121099, Russia,
or at fax No. (7-095) 960-2140 or email aborzov@usaid.gov
or Gary Juste, Agreement Officer, USAID/Russia, email gjuste@usaid.gov
Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Gary Juste
Agreement Officer
DRAFT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION NO. 118-02-001
November 2001
HUMAN RIGHTS
Background
The concept of human rights is inherently flexible and subject to
interpretation. For the purposes of this paper, human rights include
primarily civil and political liberties rather than economic, social and
cultural rights. USAID already supports organizations that are working to
create the political will and support for improved protection of human
rights.
Development Challenge
USAID's human rights program will improve the protection of human rights in
Russia, increase Russians' awareness of their human rights and demand for
protection of those rights, and improve Russians' perception of the
non-governmental organizations that attempt to protect human rights. The
program also will improve the capacity of Russians and Russian organizations
to positively affect public policy and hold government accountable for the
protection of human rights. The numbers of individuals and organizations
assisted will be small relative to the need, but the assistance will be
targeted and catalytic in driving broader changes that will affect the lives
of millions.
Outcomes to be Achieved
--Enhanced provision of legal assistance in cases of alleged human rights
abuses and improved enforcement in the courts.
--Increased influence over public policy by Russian human rights NGOs.
--Improved understanding of and demand for the protection of human rights
and
perception of Russian human rights NGOs.
Illustrative Interventions
--Enhanced provision of legal assistance in cases of alleged human rights
abuses and improved enforcement in the courts.
a) Assistance to specialized human rights legal clinics. This could include
outreach at the local level and technical training, advocacy programs, and
policy analysis by legal clinics. It could also include training for
governmental, quasi-governmental, and non-governmental organizations that
investigate and adjudicate cases involving the abuse of human rights.
b) Training for non-legal staff of human rights organizations. 1
--Increased dialogue between Russian human rights NGOs and government.
a) Advocacy training for Russian human rights NGOs on the use of position
papers, policy analyses, and proper links with political groups.
b) National and/or regional advocacy campaigns on specific human rights
issues.
c) Enhancing collaboration and exchanges with US human rights NGOs.
--Improved understanding of and demand for the protection of human rights
and
perception of Russian human rights NGOs.
a) Civic education and outreach programs.
b) Training and technical assistance to Russian human rights NGOs in
effective
use of the media.
c) Grants for production of investigative reporting related to human rights
abuses.
Analyses
USAID's June 2001 human rights assessment forms the primary basis for this
proposed program.2 This assessment pointed out the need for the human rights
movement in Russia to move from simply voicing its concerns to more
successfully influencing the creation, implementation and enforcement of
laws and public policies related to human rights. While many human rights
organizations attempt to wield such influence, few are successful due to
constraints in capability and funding.
Through more effective: 1) use of the courts, 2) advocacy and dialogue with
the executive and legislative branches, and 3) building of public awareness
and a constituency on human rights protection, these NGOs should be able to
improve the protection of human rights in Russia. In addition, other key
analyses and documents include the State Department's human rights reports
(2001 in draft) and the Moscow Helsinki Group's 2000 report.3 These reports
show that the human rights situation has improved in some areas and declined
in others.
An evaluation of USAID assistance to legal clinics is ongoing at this time
and will inform that component of this program. There are over a dozen
donors working on human rights, of which the Open Society Institute and the
Ford and MacArthur Foundations are most significant. Other donor programs
focus on strengthening Russian human rights NGOs, supporting legal clinics,
and expanding research and monitoring. Other donors have directed programs
dealing with human rights in Chechnya, which is an area USAID programs have
not addressed directly.
Results of USAID and other donor programs as well as customer feedback
indicates that current human rights work in Russia needs to be expanded to
achieve real impact. The concept of making human rights NGOs more directly
linked with the needs of average Russians by helping these groups take more
concrete actions is widely supported and believed to be more likely to
enhance the credibility and effectiveness of their advocacy and lead to more
sustained, widespread improvements.
Customer/Partner Involvement and Demand
The human rights assessment cited above and ongoing relationships with
partners and beneficiaries that work on human rights and legal defense has
led to intensive collaboration and identification of shared goals. Our
partners, both donors4 and implementers5, have been consulted. Customers
consulted include human rights leaders in Moscow, Perm, Novosibirsk, and
Tomsk. The needs of Russian human rights organizations will be addressed
through TA, training and continued consultation. A mid-term assessment will
occur in the second year of this program to assure activities are on track
and meeting targets and the needs of the intended beneficiaries.
Major Issues or Concerns
Regional foci: Should the program focus on regions with the most serious
human rights issues or should the program be piloted in more progressive
regions where there is a greater opportunity for dialogue with the
government on human rights and issues of religious and ethnic tolerance?
Which regions should be considered? Should conflict prevention and
management be considered when selecting regions?
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Notes:
1. Under a separate proposed program, human rights education of law students
will be a key component.
2. "Human Rights in Russia -- Next Phase: From Glasnost to Slyshnost,"
Kathleen Hansen et al, June 2001
3. "Human Rights in Regions of the Russian Federation: Monitoring Report for
1999" and "Human Rights in Regions of the Russian Federation: Monitoring
Report for 2000," Moscow Helsinki Group
4. Ford, MacArthur, Soros, and Berezovsky Foundations, National Endowment
for Democracy, Swiss and British governments and the European Union, among
others.
5. Moscow Helsinki Group, Sakharov Center, Solidarity Center, ABA/CEELI,
Eurasia Foundation