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UNIC UN Information Center |
By 2015 all United Nations Member States have pledged to achieve universal primary education
(from UN Millennium Development Goals)
In connection with the observance of the International Day
for the Eradication of Poverty, the United Nations 
Information
Centre in Moscow took the lead in organizing a five-day induction training course
on web site development and use of Internet for socially vulnerable groups of
young people, such as orphans, teenagers from poor families, and unemployed.
The Information Centre developed a special programme aimed
at teaching the 
audience
the basics of the use of UN on-line information materials, with special emphasis
on the key problems communities are facing nowadays: poverty, HIV/AIDS, social
inequality, unemployment, etc.
The course was based on the resources of the United Nations web site in Russian, the UNIC Moscow’s web site, as well as information resources of UN Development Programme and UNESCO web sites.
The whole project was a cooperative effort under the auspices of the UN Resident Coordinator in Russia. It was implemented jointly with the UNIC’s reliable partner – the Municipal Centre "Street Children." Altogether, more than 100 young Muscovites attended the training programme in November 2002.
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United Nations Development Programme |
By 2015 all United Nations Member States have pledged to ensure environmental sustainability
(from UN Millennium Development Goals)
In 2002 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the
Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian 
Federation
signed a new GEF project "Demonstrating Sustainable Conservation of Biological
Diversity in Four protected Areas in Russian Kamchatka Oblast".
The project financing of more than US$13 million is a joint effort of the UN, GEF, the Government of the Russian Federation, bilateral donors, and international environmental NGOs. The first meeting of the project Steering Committee was conducted in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on 13 September 2002.
The Kamchatka peninsula is one of the world’s last remaining extensive natural areas still offering an opportunity to conserve outstanding globally significant biodiversity values. The size of Germany, Austria and Switzerland combined, this 1,500 kilometer-long peninsula is included in WWF’s Global 200 list of the world’s most important ecoregions. Historically, Kamchatka’s biodiversity was protected by its remoteness, rugged landscape, and later by its strategic military importance. During the past 10 years of economic reform and societal upheaval, however, the situation has worsened dramatically. Today, with the region having become "open" to visitation and more accessible, as local populations are experiencing economic hardships, and protected area budgets have been sharply reduced, there are significant and increasing threats to Kamchatka’s biodiversity and existing protected areas: organized poaching, uncontrolled access and unmanaged uses of the protected areas resources, including recreation, pollution, and resource exploitation by local populations beyond sustainable levels.
The UNDP/GEF project would demonstrate replicable, sustainable approaches to biodiversity conservation in four existing representative protected areas: Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve, South-Kamchatsky State Sanctuary (Zakaznik), Nature Parks Nalychevo and Bystrinsky.
Biodiversity conservation objectives are linked closely to
the livelihoods of the local and indigenous population living in or around protected
areas. The project will, therefore, address socio-economic development of the
local population, as one of the main project tasks. In this context, the focus
will be particularly on the Bystrinsky Nature Park, where this need is most
profound. The Nature Park stretches throughout the larger territory of the Bystrinsky
District of the Kamchatka Oblast, and therefore, defines to a significant extent
the functioning of the District and the wellbeing of 
the
local population. Bystrinsky Nature Park includes the communities of Esso and
Anavgai within its borders. The population of the communities is approximately
2,870, with approximately 1,000 of the aboriginal people (Even, Koryak, Itelmen
and Chukchi). Economic activity of local residents within and adjacent to the
park is based on traditional land use practices such as hunting, fishing, the
gathering of mushrooms and berries, and reindeer herding.
The objective will be threefold. First, it will be to develop substitute sustainable economic activities so as to lessen the direct pressure on the Park’s biodiversity while providing economic benefits. To this end, the project will support a range of initiatives to promote the development of alternative and environmentally sustainable economic activities for local populations, including the managed and sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), the revitalization of traditional pursuits such as reindeer herding, and community participation in tourism through the development of home stays, guiding and other visitor services. Secondly, it will be to develop and implement a mix of enabling financing mechanisms by which local populations may realize these alternative forms of livelihood. Thirdly, it will be to directly and effectively involve members of local communities, and particularly indigenous people, in the conservation and management of the Park. To enable the realization of the above activities, the project will support the implementation of a micro-crediting facility for the development of small and medium enterprises, the provision of associated training for small business start-ups, and the creation of a business development consultation facility.
Project contacts:
Elena Armand,
Head of Environment Unit,
UNDP Russia
Tel: (095) 787-2102;
Fax: (095) 787-2101
elena.armand@undp.org
Yuri Karmadonov,
Project Manager
Tel.: (41522) 91970;
Tel/Fax: (41522) 90824
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The ways of implementation of the UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in Russia were on the agenda of the seminar organized on the 4th of December by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and UNDP with UNIFEM financial support and attended by representatives of about 30 federal legislative and executive agencies, NGOs and international organizations.
Earlier this year, Russia presented its latest (fifth) National Report on implementation of the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Comments of the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to the National Report and the ways to identify efficient response became subject of the discussion for the seminar participants.
The seminar was opened by Ms Marina Gordeeva, Head of the Department on Children, Women and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Labour. Mr Shombi Sharp, Director of Programmes, Assistant Resident Representative addressed participants of the meeting in the name of UNDP.
United Nations Development Programme, as stated by Mr Shombi, feels happy to be a part of the meeting as enhancement of women in all spheres of life is one of UNDP top priorities. He noted considerable progress achieved by the member-states in eliminating all forms of discrimination against women. The UN Convention of 1979 known as "Convention on Women" has played an important role in this process. It has been ratified by 170 countries. This Convention together with the Facultative Protocol of 1999 and the Beijing Platform for Action of 1995 represent a solid basis for further enhancement of the status of women in Russia.
Mr Sharp mentioned that UN Development Programme is a leading UN Agency in coordinating and implementing of the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the UN. Given broad variety of goals formulated in the above documents, the gender issues run all through the Declaration and MDG. MDG implementation in Russia will facilitate political, social and economic enhancement of the status of women in the country.
Ms Marina Gordeeva made a special emphasis in her report on sale and trafficking of women. This has become one of the most pressing problems not only for Russia, but other countries, too. It is very difficult to tackle this problem, because it is a highly profitable "business", which has a strong financial support. However, with respect to criticism addressed to Russia in the context of the issue, Ms Gordeeva expressed certain doubts that the figures of dozens and hundreds of thousands girls from Russia involved into trafficking are correct, as often these figures represent the scale of the phenomenon for the entire CIS. According to oblique information this category counts about several thousands of women. Certain efforts are made to resolve this problem, Ms Gordeeva stated.
Ms Marina Korunova, MFA representative, informed the audience about presentation of the National Report made by Ms Galina Karelova, First Deputy Minister of Labour of the RF, who answered more than 60 questions non-stop. On the whole presentation of the National Report went extremely well. "We are grateful for the in-depth analysis and final comments presented by CEDAW, which objectively reflect both pros and cons of the status of women in Russia," Ms Korunova noted. Further she outlined new options and perspectives opened up by the Facultative Protocol , signed by the Russian Federation on May 8, 2001. Moving the ratification of the Protocol has been already included into the schedule of the government for the coming year. Ms Korunova expressed hope that the Facultative Protocol will be ratified by the Russian Federation in 2003.
Ms Zinaida Suslova, Adviser to the State Duma Committee on Women, Family and Youth Issues spoke on specific legislative acts, being currently developed by the State Duma in the interests of women.
Ms Svetlana Aivazova, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Comparative Political Science of the Russian Academy of Science and Ms. Svetlana Savostyanova, Director of the Women’s Management Centre of the Komi Republic pointed out, in particular, substantial increases in the number of women among decision-makers.
Ms Galina Kalinaeva, UNDP Gender Adviser presented her vision how to secure and guarantee state funds for a national mechanism to up-grade the status of women.
Ms Tatiana Lipilina, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Department on Social Development and Employment and Ms Irena Melekh, ILO Programme Coordinator covered the issue of poverty reduction among women.
Ms Tamara Veligurova, representative of the Ministry of Interior and Ms Albina Shirobokova, President of the "Angara" Women’s Union from Irkutsk dedicated their presentations to the issues of prevention of violence against women and of their sexual exploitation.
Participants of the seminar formulated final recommendations on efficient response to the ÑEDAW comments.
