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The Rights and Responsibilities of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC Russian Federation Outreach November 2008 Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, Chief, NGO Section, DESA Copyright United Nations NGO SECTION/DESA THE RUSSIAN PEACE FOUNDATION ECOSOC Special Consultative Status since 2006 Promotion and enhancement of peace, friendship and understanding between peoples. Millenium Development Goals – Part 2 “We have to crisis proof our agenda, especially in the area of development. In particular we cannot allow the financial crisis to turn into a prolonged human crisis. That is why the race to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by the target of 2015, has become even more pressing” Millenium Development Goals Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Reduce child mortality Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Achieve universal primary education By 2015 191 Member States have pledged to: Ensure environmental sustainability Promote gender equality and empower women Improve maternal health Develop a global partnership for development 10 thematic Task Forces Poverty and Economic Development Child Health and Maternal Health HIV/AIDS and other diseases Improving the lives of Slum Dwellers Hunger From now to 2015 189 Member States Trade Education and Gender Equality Environment Sustainability Water and Sanitation Science, Technology and Innovation « If the UN’s global agenda is to be properly addressed, a partnership with civil society at large is not an option; it is a necessity . » Hon. Ban-Ki Moon Secretary General United Nations Implementation of the MDGs in the Russian Federation National Brief Three keys areas have been identified by the National Priority Project: 1. Poverty Reduction 2. Maternal Health 3. Eradication of HIV/AIDS The goal has been achieved: – The population living under the national poverty line is 15% (compared to 25% seven years ago) – Less than 7% of children under 5 years old are under nourished The Russian Federation has achieved high enrollment and completion rates in primary education: - More than 98% of children and adolescents are educated in primary as well as secondary schools - More than 8.5 millions students are spread in over 1000 higher studies establishments The tasks for the future are: - To modernize educational tools - To ensure the quality of education services - To reinforce the schools’ technical capacities Problems linked to gender equality vary according to regions but UNDP is helping the Russian Federation to face them: - The rate of literacy among women is 99,8% - The UNDP’s expertise on gender equality is largely used by the executive and legislative powers at the federal and national level. - The Russian Federation is advanced compared to other European countries in terms of budget spent to promote gender equality. - The discriminatory practices concern violence towards women and life expectancy between genders. The challenge for the Russian Federation government is • - to create a society which concretely promotes gender equality: To provide help to women in order for them to conjugate work and home To introduce women in politics To Eliminate every form of sexual discrimination in politics - The Russian Federation’s rates of infant and child mortality are among the highest in Eastern Europe The major issues children are facing are iodine and iron deficiency disorders, HIV infected mothers, anaemia and low vaccination rates It is imperative to: - Taking decisive actions to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS - Provide resources and accurate information about vaccination and vital needs of new born - Care properly for maternal and child health Even though the maternal mortality rate in Russia has been steadily declining, its level remains quite high by Western Europe standards Not the modern contraception methods, but induced interruption of unwanted pregnancy remains the basic method of family planning in Russia The Russian took steps in 2005 by: - Providing pregnant women with quality medical services by certifying 210 hospital as baby-fiendly • The estimated number of people living with HIV in 2005 was 940 000 • The number of deaths caused by the tuberculosis grew 2.43 times from 1990 to 2001 HIV is mentioned as the disease that aggravates negative demographic situation in Russia During the last three years, there was a visible increase at higher political levels to combat HIV - More than $100 million (a tenfold increase) has been allocated for prevention programmes in 2006 alone. - Concerted effort to slash the cost of therapies used to treat HIV Indicators of GDP per unit of energy use show that the post-soviet economy is not yet environmentally sustainable The Russian Federation showed its commitment to attain a sustainable national development by : - President Medvedev’s decision to reduce by 2020 Russia’s GDP energy by at least 40% compared to 2007 - Adoption in January 2002 of the Ecological Doctrine and the Law on Environmental Protection - Support to new environmental technology and environmental business The Russian Federation has successfully transformed itself from an aid recipient to an emerging donor through rapid economic development. Russia is willing to take an active part in developing the global partnership and has placed priority on : • • • • Combat of terrorism Health services Emergency relief Protection of environment Russia’s participation to the agreement of the G8 leaders in June 2002 to create a “Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction” Russia is striving to establish a comprehensive partnership system in order to: - Provide greater trade access - Resolve debt problems - Stimulate investment - Expand assistance to developing nations End of Part 2