 MSI is implementing a four-year project to mobilize Russian citizens to advocate for and protect their human, social and civil rights. Working in four regions of the country with human rights groups and regional authorities, we are transferring international best practices and leveraging the skills, resources and experiences of existing groups to communicate effectively with citizens and train them by example to stand up for their rights. 
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Fighting for Human Rights in Russia MSI is implementing the “I’ve Got Rights” project in Russia, a four-year project funded by USAID. The project aims to create and support the conditions and the political will to sustain the observance of human, social and civil rights by promoting citizen awareness, strengthening civil society organizations’ (CSOs) ability to educate citizens, and collecting and disseminating information about citizens who successfully defended their rights. The "I've Got Rights" project is also facilitating an active network among human rights and civil society, as well as facilitating constructive dialogue on these issues between CSOs and government. MSI is partnering with local non-profit organizations including the Perm Regional Human Rights Defense Center, Voronezh Center for the Development of Civic Initiatives, Novosibirsk Master Class NGO, and Interregional NGO Committee against Torture in Nizhniy Novgorod. Since the project began, local project staff have conducted public opinion polls, worked with local organizations to develop regional strategies for “mainstreaming” human rights and awarded numerous small grants to CSOs to implement projects to increase public awareness about human, civil, and social rights. The project has also worked closely with the grantee organizations to help to build the skills of human rights organizations to effectively communicate with the public and targeted groups, earn the public’s trust and support, improve public understanding of the value of human rights, and build public confidence in protecting their rights. The project has also undertaken skills-building workshops for media to investigative human rights abuses. The project is also using the web to demonstrate that citizens’ rights in Russia can be defended effectively and to stimulate more citizens to stand up to defend them. Since the project begin in 2009, local project staff have posted 63 cases collected from throughout the country on a variety of rights, including freedom of speech, army service, municipal services, discrimination, housing, personal safety, health and the rights of disabled persons. In one of the most significant cases highlighted, the European Court of Human Rights handed down two decisions. In February 2010, the court ruled in favor of a journalist’s right to freedom of the press. The Russian courts were found to be in violation of Article 10 of the European Convention because they ruled in favor of government officials who were trying to suppress newspaper articles critical of their government decisions. These articles also exposed their misuse of public funds. Go to our Practice Areas section to access more projects by category |
