WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 0/1;
Conflict Prevention: 0/1;
Disarmament: 0/1;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/1;
Participation: 0/1;
Peace Processes: 0/1;
Peacekeeping: 0/1;
Protection: 1/1;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/1;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 0/1;
Implementation: 0/1;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 0/1;
Human Rights: 0/1.
S/PV.6790: "What is particularly troubling is that the majority of them are children, women and the elderly — in other words, those considered to be the most vulnerable groups in the population."
The Russian Federation used its veto right 2 times out of 2 vetoed draft resolutions in 2012 (One draft resolution has gender-sensitive language).
Draft resolution on Syria (S/2012/538): "Women must be fully represented in all aspects of the transition."
Draft resolution on Syria (S/2012/77) includes no gender-specific language.
In its statement at the October 2010 Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, the Russian Federation did not announce any specific Women, Peae and Security commitments.
S/PV.6411: "The theme of women and peace and security should not be reduced to individual manifestations alone. Just such a balanced approach formed the basis for resolution 1325 (2000)."
S/PV.6411: "Our partners in the Council and the relevant agencies and mechanisms of the United Nations system should give greater attention to how to involve women in implementation by enhancing gender equality when establishing peacekeeping contingents and in other relevant issues in mission mandates."
Profit from Arms Transfer: $8,480,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution: $0
The Russian Federation receives 0% due to the lack of financial support to UN Women.
Profit from Arms Transfer in 2011: $8,695,000,000
______________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution: $0
HDI (Human Development Index):
The Russian Federation was ranked 55th.
The Russian Federation is included in the "High Human Development" category.
International HR Documents:
"International Stadnards," OHCHR
Status of Ratifications:
"Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General: Status of Treaties," United Nations Treaty Collection
"Status of Ratifications: Interactive Dashboard," OHCHR
"ATT: Status of ratifications and accessions," amazonaws.com
Women from the Russian Federation are on duty in the following peacekeeping missions:
MINURSO (0),
MINUSTAH (1),
MONUSCO (0),
UNMIL (0),
UNMIT (2),
UNMISS (0),
UNOCI (0),
UNTSO (0).
Peacekeepers from the Russian Federation were involved in 0 out of 60 allegations against civilian, military, police, and other peacekeeping personnel in 2012.
The representatives of the Russian Federation made no statements at the meetings of the Security Council (or at any other official international meetings) on its position on the sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers.
Governmental support for women's civil society:
- Engagement in joint government/NGO efforts: Yes
- Funding provided by the government: Yes
The Russian Federation receives 58% because:
Even though the government is engaged in collabouration with women's civil society, inadequate financial support to women's organisations is provided, there is no special WPS-focus in the work of women's civil society, the number of projects on the Women, Peace and Security agenda in existence is very low, strictly regulating national and international NGO funding (i.e.: labeling civil society organizations as "Foreign Agents" for accepting international funding), and questionably detaining activists and strictly regulating the efforts of rights-based organizations.
Socially-oriented NGOs: 108,000.
Key women's organisation's (ANNA) efforts in regard to gender issues include the following:
- Number of conferences: Unknown;
- Number of publications: 5+.
Types of social support provided:
Education: Yes
Anti-violence: Yes
Women's empowerment: Yes
Gender-related training: No
Political participation: No
Anti-human trafficking: No
Women's health: Yes
Lobbying and policymaking: Yes
Fundraising: No
The Russian Federation hosted the following high-level events in 2012:
- One-week training of trainers on gender-responsive budgeting for Commonwealth of Independent States.
**Note: The information about the high-level events has been collected using available media sources.
"NGO Law Monitor: Russia," August 23, 2016, The International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law
"On the work of Non-Governmental organizations," Information Portal of the Russian Ministry of Justice
Bindman, Eleanor. "The state, civil society and social rights in contemporary Russia," 2015, Queen Mary University of London
"One-week training of trainers on gender-responsive budgeting for Commonwealth of Independent States conducted in Russia," July 26, 2012, UN Women
"Seminar on Gender-Responsive Budgeting for civil servants and GRB trainers held at the Regional GRB Center of Excellence in Moscow," December 24, 2012, UN Women
There is no National Action Plan on the Implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 in the Russian Federation.
Military Expenditure: $81,469,000,000
_____
There is no National Action Plan on the Implementation of Resolution 1325.
Military Expenditure in 2011: $70,238,000,000
_____
There is no National Action Plan on the Implementation of Resolution 1325.
Women made up 9.15% of the Parliament in 2012.
Lower: 13.6%;
Upper: 4.7%.
16% of ministerial positions were held by women in the Russian Federation in 2012.
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.19
20% of law enforcement positions were held by women.
**Note: Data is available for 2012. As per Federal Law # 342-F3 (of 11/30/2011), the data on the number of police officers is not to be disclosed.
**Note: Data is available for 2012. As per Federal Law # 342-F3 (of 11/30/2011), the data on the number of police officers is not to be disclosed.
62% of judges in the Russian Federation were women.
Total Professional Judges:
Female: 62.0%;
Male: 38.0%.
Total General Jurisdiction Judges: 21,043
Female: 11,906;
Male: 9,137.
Supreme Court: 107 judges
Female: 26;
Male: 81.
Commercial Courts: 3,719 judges
Female: 2,506;
Male: 1,213.
Supreme Commercial Court: 56 judges
Female: 30;
Male: 26.
Commercial Cassational Courts: 387 judges
Female: 246;
Male: 141.
Commercial Appellate Courts: 544 judges
Female: 392;
Male: 152.
Commercial Courts of the Federal Entity Level: 2,732 judges
Female: 1,838;
Male: 894.
Women's labour participation rate was 69% in the Russian Federation in 2012.
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.91
Unemployment rate (percentage of female/male labour force):
Female: 7%;
Male: 8%.
Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 16,609;
Male: 26,877;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.62.
Legislators, senior officials, and managers (%):
Female: 37, Male: 63;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.59.
Professional and technical workers (%):
Female: 64, Male: 36;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.80.
Enrolment in primary education: 93%;
Enrolment in secondary education: 95.31%;
Enrolment in tertiary education: 87%.
The enrolment difference between males and females is provided below (The theoretical maximum value is 100%. Increasing trends are considered a reflection of improving coverage at the specified level of education):
Literacy rate (%):
Female: 99;
Male: 100;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.91.
Enrolment in primary education (%):
Female: 93;
Male: 93;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.
Enrolment in secondary education (%):
Female: 95.31;
Male: 96.98.
Enrolment in tertiary education (%):
Female: 87;
Male: 65;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.35.
While gender perspecives within the legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.
Gender is mainstreamed into legal framework in accordance with international law.
In 2005, the Parliament Assembly of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States adopted the Model Law “On State Guarantees of Equality of Rights and Opportunities for Men and Women.”
Although there are some law provisions prohibiting discrimination, they usually do not regulate gender discrimination separately.
General Victim and Witness Protection Law (enacted in 2004 and amended most recently in 2013).
The Russian Federation has no law guaranteeing equal opportunities for men and women in employment or education.
The Russian Federation has not enacted a comprehensive gender equality law, and “neither the Constitution [...] nor other appropriate legislation, contains a definition of discrimination or expressly prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex.
The Russian Federation has no comprehensive law, programmeor action plan to address domestic violence, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not updated its domestic violence information since 2008.
No provision in the Russian Criminal Code specifically addresses honour killings.
Russian law prohibits rape and sexual assault and contains no exceptions for rapes committed by spouses or relatives.
Currently domestic violence is not recognised as a separate offence by the Russian Criminal Code. The only applicable criminal provisions are those relating to bodily injuries or other crimes.
Gender perspectives in the Constitution:
Article 19:
- "All people are equal before the law and in the court of law";
- "The state guarantees the equality of rights and liberties regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, origin, property or employment status, residence, attitude to religion, convictions, membership of public associations or any other circumstance. Any restrictions of the rights of citizens on social, racial, national, linguistic or religious grounds are forbidden";
- "Man and woman have equal rights and liberties and equal opportunities for their pursuit".
Article 19 of the Russian Constitution guarantees equality between women and men. However, the Russian Federation has not enacted a comprehensive gender equality law, and “neither the Constitution . . . nor other appropriate legislation, contains a definition of discrimination or expressly prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex.”
Article 20:
Requires the state to prosecute cases of private-public prosecution even if a victim withdraws her complaint, although prosecutors generally refuse to pursue an investigation or open a criminal case against the accused if the victim quickly recants.
Article 21:
- "No one may be subjected to torture, violence or any other harsh or humiliating treatment or punishment. No one may be subjected to medical, scientific or other experiments without his or her free consent".
Article 24:
- "It is forbidden to gather, store, use and disseminate information on the private life of any person without his/her consent".
- "The bodies of state authority and the bodies of local self-government and the officials thereof provide to each citizen access to any documents and materials directly affecting his/her rights and liberties unless otherwise stipulated under the law".
Article 34:
- "Everyone has the right to freely use his or her abilities and property 622 for entrepreneurial or any other economic activity not prohibited by the law".
Article 35:
- "Everyone has the right to have property in his or her ownership, to possess, use and manage it either individually or jointly with other persons".
- "No one may be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property unless on the basis of decision by a court of law. Property can be forcibly alienated for state needs only on condition of a preliminary and equal compensation".
Article 37:
- "Work is free. Everyone has the right to make free use of his or her abilities for work and to choose a type of activity and occupation".
Article 42:
- "Everyone has the right to a favorable environment, reliable information about its condition and to compensation for the damage caused to his or her health or property by ecological violations".
Article 45:
- "State protection for human rights and liberties in the Russian Federation is guaranteed".
- "Everyone has the right to defend his or her rights and liberties by any means not prohibited by the law".
Article 46:
- "Everyone is guaranteed protection of his or her rights and liberties in a court of law".
Article 47:
- "No one may be denied the right to having his or her case reviewed by the court and the judge under whose jurisdiction the given case falls under the law".
- "Anyone charged with a crime has the right to have his or her case reviewed by a court of law with the participation of jurors in cases stipulated by the federal law".
Article 51:
- "No one is obliged to give evidence against himself or herself, for his or her spouse and close relatives, the range of which are established by the federal law".
Article 62:
- "Possession of the citizenship of a foreign state by the citizen of the Russian Federation does not belittle his or her ranks and liberties or exempt him or her from the duties stemming from Russian citizenship unless otherwise stipulated by the federal law or international treaty of the Russian Federation".
Criminal Code:
Article 127.1:
Punishes the purchase and sale or recruitment, transportation, transfer, or receipt of any person for the purpose of exploitation.
Article 127.2:
Specifically prohibits “Slave Labour."
Article 131 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:
Criminalizes rape, with harsher sentences for cases involving a juvenile victim, multiple rapists or the victim’s death.
Article 132:
Punishes other forms of sexual assault under the title “Violent Actions of Sexual Character."
"Russia - Constitution," International Constitutional Law Project
"Constitutional Provisions on Women's Equality," Library of Congress
"Does the constitution take at least one approach to gender equality?," World Policy Center
"Current Legal Framework: Signatory or Ratified in Russian Federation," January 15, 2013, International Models Project on Women's Rights
"Russia Piles on Tighter Abortion Restrictions," February 22, 2012, Center for Reproductive Rights
"Russian Federation: Briefing to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: 46th Session July 2010," June 1, 2010, Amnesty International
While legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.
In the Russian Federation, since 2004, due to amendments to the Criminal Code, women prisoners no longer serve sentences in high-security regimes.
In the Russian Federation, federal legislation allows for mothers of children under the age of 14 and pregnant women who have been convicted of less serious offences to have their sentences deferred, shortened or revoked. Female prisoners who are pregnant or who have young children and who are imprisoned for less serious offences may have their sentences deferred until their children have reached the age of 14.
In two mother and baby units out of the 13 which exist in the Russian Federation, convicted women prisoners live in joint accommodation with their babies and may do so until the baby reaches the age of three (with some flexibility if the mother is due for release within a year). After this the child goes into the care of family members or the appropriate welfare authorities. However, upon release women who wish to be reunited with their children face barriers as they are required to prove that they can provide financial support and accommodation.
In the Russian Federation, the right to free legal aid is reinforced by the Constitution, but it is a well-known fact that the service is not as widely available as it ought to be
According to ANNA (umbrella civil society organisation), the Russian Federation has “no established system of assistance to victims.”
In 2012, the working group of the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection’s Coordination Council for Gender Issues developed a draught federal law ‘On the prevention of family-domestic violence’. The working group was composed of lawyers who practice in the sphere of women’s rights defense and representatives of women’s NGOs, including the authors of this report. The draft law itself was praised by Russian civil society represented in the bodies of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. Still, to this day, this draught law has not been passed – more than two years have elapsed since an overwhelming agreement on its provisions was established in the ministries and departments of the Government of the Russian Federation.
"Increasing Access to Justice in the Russian Federation," October, 2010, American Bar Association
Salikov, Marat. "The Russian Federal System: SUb-National and Local Levels," Rutgers University
Shvarts, M.Z. "The Language of Court Proceedings and Clerical Work at Law-Enforcement Bodies," Saint Petersburg University
"Russia: Domestic violence; recourse and protection available to victims of domestic violence; support services and availability of shelters (2010-2013)," November 15, 2013, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
"Implementation by the Russian Federation of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (2010-2014)," 2015, All-Russian Association Women’s Non-Governmental Organizations
The Government of the Russian Federation does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government has not shown evidence of increasing efforts to address human trafficking compared to the previous years; therefore, the Russian Federation is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for a ninth consecutive year.
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of sexual violence exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
A systemic approach to protecting against sexual violence does not exist at the government level.
Number of women's shelters: 41.
"Violence Against Women in the Russian Federation," October, 2014, The Advocates for Human Rights
"Violence Against Women in the Russian Federation," July, 2010, ANNA Centre for the Prevention of Violence
"Domestic Violence Against Women in the Russian Federation," October, 2015, ANNA Centre for the Prevention of Violence
While veterans services for women veterans exist, the quality of service, outreach to engage female veterans in service access and utalisation, and the availability of gender-sensitive services at all locations are not fully effective.
Federal Law "On Veterans" (1995) states veterans are provided with the following social support:
- Pensions, allowances in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;
- Monthly payments;
- Provision of accommodation;
- Compensation for payment of premises and utilities costs;
- Health care and orthopedic care.
The Federal Law "On Veterans" is not gender sensitive, although it provides regulations on services and other rights awarded to military veterans, which would include women since the serve in the military alongside men in many areas.
All-Russian public organisation of veterans (pensioners) of war, labour, armed forces and law enforcement agencies:
- Protection of civil, social, economic, labour veterans and personal rights;
- Improving the material conditions, medical and consumer veterans services;
- Legal assistance to veterans and their families;
- Patriotic education of youth;
- Military-historical work.
To receive a pension and other state services as a "Veteran of labour", a person must have been a minor during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and have at least 40 years (for men) and 35 years (for women) of work experience.
"Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women," July 30, 2010, CEDAW
"Violence Against Women in the Russian Federation, Alternative Report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, 46th session," July, 2010, ANNA National Centre for the Prevention of Violence
"The Role of Women in Russia's Armed Forces," November 26, 2013, Jamestown Foundation
"Codes and the most popular laws," Consultant Plus
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of sexual violence exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
Services are technically in place, but are drastically inadequate to meet national demands.
1 national 24 hour free women’s helpline;
41 women’s shelters with approximately 400 shelter places available;
19 women’s crisis centres providing telephone and walk-in counseling services and self-help groups operated by NGOs and the National centre for the Prevention of Violence;
1 women’s centre for survivors of sexual violence;
Based on Council of Europe taskforce recommendations, approximately 381 women’s rape crisis centres are needed in russia. Thus, 380 centres are still missing and a result, the Russian Federation fails to meet the Council of Europe recommendations.
National Registry (Genome):
With regard to crimes against sexual inviolability and sexual freedom of the individual, in which genomic registration will be carried out regardless of their severity, the special place these crimes aside due to the fact that the efficiency of the utilisation of genetic surveys for their disclosure is greatest. It was proved that "the formation of the genetic characteristics database advisable to start, especially in cases of sexual offenses, in the presence of the material and technical conditions for extending its scope and covering other serious crimes against the person". This makes it possible in some cases to use a genetic database and when none of the genotypes in the database are to be forensic matches registration data entities received.
In 2012, during its review of the Russian Federation, the U.N. Committee on Torture stated:
Despite consistent reports of numerous allegations of many forms of violence against women throughout the State party, the Committee is concerned that there are only a small number of complaints, investigations and prosecutions of acts of domestic violence and violence against women. It is also concerned about reports that law enforcement officers are unwilling to register claims of domestic violence, and that women who seek criminal investigations of allegations of domestic violence are compelled to participate in reconciliation processes.
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of human trafficking exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
Most financial support for anti-trafficking efforts are provided from international entities, and the vast majority or anti-human trafficking efforts are conducted by national NGOs (namely the Angel Coalition - who's website is currently unavailable). While anti-human trafficking services and resources do exist, they are inadequate to fully meet the needs of victims of human trafficking.
The Russian government demonstrated very limited efforts to protect and assist victims during the reporting period. The government also showed inadequate efforts to identify victims; the majority of assisted victims continued to be identified by NGOs or international organisations. Some municipalities across the Russian Federation had cooperation agreements between NGOs and local authorities to refer victims for assistance, though there was no national policy or system of victim referrals. In November 2009, the government failed to allocate funding to prevent the closure of the IOM-run shelter and rehabilitation centre in Moscow, creating a significant void in the availability of medical, rehabilitative, and reintegration services for trafficking victims. The Russian government continued to lack national policies and national programmes to provide specific assistance for trafficking victims. The majority of aid to NGOs and international organisations providing victim assistance continued to be funded by international donors. Some local governments reportedly provided in-kind and modest financial support to some anti-trafficking NGOs. A local government in the Russian Far East provided facility space and modest funding amounting to approximately $3,732 for utilities for a shelter for victims of domestic violence and trafficking that opened in February 2009, although the majority of the shelter’s operation costs were funded by a foreign donor during the reporting period. The shelter did not receive adequate funding during the entire reporting period to consistently assist victims of trafficking.
Many municipal trafficking shelters are actually domestic violence shelters and therefore are not equipped with the specific resources and knowledge to effectively address the needs to trafficking victims.
The Angel Coalition programmes and projects appear to be the main source for training on human trafficking in the Russian Federation, prevention, protection, and identification of trafficked persons.
The Angel Coalition operates international hotlines to provide immediate assistance to Russian-speaking trafficking victims. Skilled experts provide free 24-hour legal and psychological consultations for victims and their families, offer recommendations, and provide other necessary help including contacts with police trafficking task forces who can provide immediate rescue assistance in countries around the world. The hotline is toll-free and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Trafficking in Persons Report: 2012," US Department of State
Hartl, Jennifer Ann. "Human trafficking in the Russian Federation: an examination of the anti-trafficking efforts of the federal government, non-governmental organizations and the International Organization for Migration," Summer, 2010, Iowa Research Online
While a wide range of services and resources are made available to refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs, these services are usually provided by local service providers, therefore making these services and resources less available in some geographic locations.
Total population of refugees, stateless persons, IDPs, and asylum-seekers: 191,101.
Migrants who receive legal status in the Russian Federation are entitled to receive the same social and medical benefits as Russian nationals. They are resettled within the country according to regional quotas defined by the federal government, are limited in selecting places of residence, and have their travels inside the Russian Federation monitored by the authorities.
Persons recognised as refugees, including accompanying family members, are entitled to the following rights (via Federal Law No. 45-281 of Feb. 19, 1993 on Refugees):
- Information about their rights and responsibilities through translation services if required, including assistance with document processing;
- A travel allowance and baggage shipment to their assigned place of residence;
- Protection by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of temporary accommodation to ensure their safety;
- Food and public utilities in the centres of temporary accommodation;
- Access to housing paid from a special fund for temporary accommodation;
- Medical assistance in an amount equal to that received by Russian citizens;
- Vocational training and job placement assistance;
- Employment or the opportunity to establish their own business;
- Social protection and social security;
- Participation in public activities.
Specific gender-related data on refugees, IDPs, and asylum seekers unavailable.
"Refugee Law and Policy: Russian Federation," Library of Congress
"The Integration of Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and IDPs in the Russian Federation," European University Institute, September, 2013, Robert Shuman Center for Advanced Studies
"Russian Federation," International Organization for Migration (IOM)
"UNHCR Global Trends 2012," UNHCR
WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 3/17;
Conflict Prevention: 3/17;
Disarmament: 0/17;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/17;
Participation: 2/17;
Peace Processes: 2/17;
Peacekeeping: 3/17;
Protection: 4/17;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 2/17;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 3/17;
Implementation: 1/17;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 3/17;
Human Rights: 2/17.
S/PV.6790: "What is particularly troubling is that the majority of them are children, women and the elderly — in other words, those considered to be the most vulnerable groups in the population."