Human rights to be addressed in Russia

[Robert Harris]

PRESIDENT TURNS TO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FOR HELP... Meeting in the
Kremlin with a group of human rights activists to mark International
Human Rights Day on 10 December, President Vladimir Putin admitted
that Russia has many unresolved problems in this area, newsru.com and
other Russian news agencies reported. He said that the ignorance,
corruption, and arbitrariness of many officials are preventing the
government from implementing the human rights guarantees in the
constitution. The president asked the activists, including Ella Pamfilova, chairwoman of the presidential commission on human rights,
and Moscow Helsinki Group head Lyudmila Alekseeva to arrange an
expert commission to evaluate all draft legislation connected with
human rights and to assist the state in handling public petitions and
complaints. VY

From: RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 6, No. 231, Part I, 11 December 2002

I may be wrong but I think this is something of a first, or three firsts.

1) Admission that there is a real problem, 2) Saying he will do something about it, and 3) Dealing with people who have been highly critical of the government.

Of course talk comes easier in Russia than action. We shall see if anything happens.

[claire]

It's a step in the good direction(at last!).But as you
pointed out wisely let's wait and see if something
really comes out of it(I have my doubts)

[jamming]

You Know Claire it is sometimes hard for me to believe that you were so young when the Berlin Wall came down.

[claire]

Hi Jamming,
Really pleased to see you again.
My dad told me(and explained me with several intances)
how precious freedom is.And he also kind of" forced "me
to regularly watch the news and read the news papers
I must say I found it was a" borring detail" but now I
am pleased with my dad's decision.
I sure have still a lot to learn but I do my best
And beeing young does not mean necessary unable to
have a personnal opinion
Till the next time,dear friend

Regards:)

[ethics]

Hey, at least they are MENTIONING it, that's a huge start already.

I may actually see something in my lifetime after all.