CRC/C/RUS/CO/4-5
Below is a short summary of some of the key issues from the Committee on the Rights of the Child's 65th session concluding observations for the Russian Federation. Read the full text, and you can find other documents related to the Committee's 65th session (including alternative reports submitted by NGOs and the Committee's concluding observations for other States reviewed in this session) on the Committee’s session page.
Non-discrimination: The Committee recommends that the State party repeal its laws prohibiting
propaganda of homosexuality and ensure that children who belong to LGBTI groups
or children of LGBTI families are not subjected to any forms of discrimination.
Birth registration: The Committee urges the State party to ensure that all children born in its
territory, irrespective of their parents status, are registered on the same terms as
children born to Russian citizens and are issued with a standard birth certificate.
Torture: The Committee urges the State party to take immediate measures to prevent incidents of ill-treatment by unannounced visits to places of detention and by undertaking comprehensive training programmes for security and police personnel. It also recommends that an effective complaints and data collection system is set-up. The Committee calls for immediate measures to prevent abuse and ill treatment of persons belonging to Roma community, especially their children.
Corporal punishment: The Committee urges the State party to legally prohibit the use of all forms of corporal punishment in all settings, in particular in the home and alternative care institutions.
Sexual exploitation: The Committee is concerned about the sexual abuse of children who belong to LGBTI groups. The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent measures to investigate all information related to sexual abuse of children, including LGBTI children, and prosecute and punish the perpetrators of such crimes under the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code.
Harmful practices: The Committee recommends that the State party ensures that acts of violence against women and girls, including “honour killings” and “bride kidnappings” in the Northern Caucasus are promptly and impartially investigated. The Committee also recommends that the State party prevents early marriages of girls in the region by developing and undertaking comprehensive awareness-raising programs, targeting in particular traditional and religious leaders and parents.
For more information on harmful practices, access CRIN’s page here.
Separation from family: The Committee strongly recommends that the State party to stop the practice of forced separation of mothers from their children, in particular the practice of separating children from Roma mothers due to lack of necessary documentation.
Baby boxes: The Committee strongly urges the State party to undertake all measures
necessary to not allow baby boxes and promote alternatives.
Disabilities: The Committee urges the State party to prevent mass institutionalisation of children with disabilities and ensure sufficient alternative family and community based care options for children with disabilities. It also recommends the State party to stop the practice of categorising children as “ineducable”.
Health: The Committee urges the State party to take urgent actions to strengthen its efforts to prevent suicide among children and youth, including by increasing available psychological counselling
services and the number of social workers in schools and communities.
Education: The Committee recommends that the State party ensures all children, including minority children, children of irregular migrant workers and asylum seekers have access to free and compulsory education up to the age of 18 years.
