In her remarks, Ms Kuznetsova outlined the Expert Council’s core activities, such as reducing child and family hardship and child abandonment; monitoring compliance with children’s rights to free, accessible, timely, and high-quality healthcare; protecting children's rights to training and education; improving the situation of orphans; ensuring information security; preventing crimes against children; and working to improve existing legislation.
Senior Aide to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee Igor Komissarov reported on violations of children’s rights at children’s institutions, particularly, boarding schools. Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Konstantin Dolgov focused on child suicide and the spread of virtual ”death groups,“ in particular the need for a special approach to covering this issue in the media. In his report, Chief Addiction Psychiatrist of the Healthcare Ministry and Director of the Moscow Research and Practical Centre for Narcology Yevgeny Brun focused on preventing teenage drug and alcohol abuse. Galina Soldatova, a professor at Moscow State University, spoke about internet addiction among the children. Valentina Petrenko, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, pointed out the need to analyse the work of the ministries and departments whose activities are related to ensuring children’s rights in the context of domestic violence.
Following the meeting, its participants resolved to develop recommendations to improve legislation and conduct research in the sphere of child protection.