UNDP ASSISTS DEVELOPMENT OF THE "THIRD SECTOR" IN RUSSIA. On May 22, 1998 was opened officially the Center for Social Partnership in Moscow under a joint project between UNDP and the City Government of Moscow. The main objective of the Center is to enable constructive cooperation between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Moscow Government, as well as to render sustainable support to NGOs participating in the solution of important social issues in Moscow. One of the important tasks in front of the Center is the elaboration of specific mechanisms for interaction between the Government, NGOs and the commercial sector which will contribute to the development of institutes of civil society. These tasks will be pursued through the following sectors of expertise of the Center: information, analysis and research, training, economic and finance, and interaction program. The project is a pilot and could be replicated in other regions in Russia.

FIRST OMBUDSMAN IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION opened in the Moscow Institute University) for International Relations (MGIMO) with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within the programme Democracy, Governance and Participation. This is also one of the first successful projects in this area with strong emphasis on the promotion of human rights culture at the grass-root level. According to Mr. Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of the University, this is a very positive step in strengthening democratic developments in the country, particularly with regard the young generation. The project coordinated by the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation opens opportunities to replicate the approach of MGIMO in other Universities of Russia and other CIS countries, a number of which have expressed already their interest to join the project in the future.

ESSAY CONTEST TO COMMEMORATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS was organized by UNDP Russia and the Russian UN Association. Schoolchildren and students from all over Russia took part in this contest entitled "The United Nations and Human Rights in the Russian Federation". At the final ceremony which took place on 29 June 1998, the Board selected four winners among 15 finalists. The winners, who were awarded prizes by UNDP, will take part in the annual UN Ball in October 1998. Their trip to New York will be sponsored by the UNDP Russia.