Over the last three years, Russia has passed more than one hundred laws, supplements and amendments to legislative acts aimed at improving the status of children. In particular, it has adopted the National Children’s Strategy for 2012–2017, a major concept-based national document. A Government plan to implement the strategy is currently being developed in accordance with presidential instructions.
Presidential Children’s Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov has developed a draft federal targeted programme for 2013–2020 called Russia Without Orphans.
A Russia-wide seminar, The Efficiency of Commissions on Affairs of Minors and Defending the Rights of Minors: Problems and Solutions, will be held within the framework of the Congress, which will bring together representatives of these commissions from Russia’s 83 regions.
Vladimir Putin sent greetings to forum participants. In particular, his message reads, “The work of children’s rights commissioners requires not just professional expertise, but also the highest moral qualities: first and foremost, children require human care, sensitivity and understanding. You must carefully monitor the situation, reacting swiftly to any violations of the rights of minors.”