On the 13th of November the Russian parliament accepted the package of president’s bills in the first reading. The new laws concern the development of the institute of children’s rights ombudsman and making the regional children's ombudsmen accountable to the federal ombudsman.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, commented on the new laws in his interview to the journalists. ‘All political groups in the State Duma supported this package of bills, suggested by the Russian President.
The presidential legislative initiatives widen the terms of reference of the ombundsman, allowing to participate in improving the legislature on children’s rights protection,’ he said.
He also noted that ‘the ombudsman, according with the new law, will be given the right to apply to the Russian parliament with the proposals on introducing changes into the legislature that will protect the interest of a child. One more important presidential proposal is to give the right to apply to relevant authorities to charge with a criminal offence those who infringe the rights of a child.
‘It is important that the work of the ombudsmen should be coherent, both at the federal and at the local level. The suggested legislative initiatives will allow to solve his problem,’ said the Speaker of the State Duma.
The office of the children’s rights ombudsman was established in Russia by the presidential law on September 1st, 2009. Until this moment the work of the children’s ombudsman has been regulated by this brief law.
The new law, adopted today in the first reading, introduces the complex methods of regulating the work of the children’s rights ombudsman in the RF.
The new law states that the federal ombudsman is appointed by the RF president for the five-years term. The same person can not serve in the office for more than two following terms. An ombudsman can be relieved of his duties by presidential decision. The ombudsmen must be aged 30 or over to be appointed for the job.
Other requirements are ‘spotless reputation’, university education, experience in protecting the rights of children or other human rights work.
The ombudsman is given new powers as well. They can apply to court with claims on invalidating the actions of the officials if those infringe the rights and interests of a child. The ombudsman is allowed to participate in civil lawsuit when acting in the interests of a child.
The federal ombudsman becomes the coordinator for the work of regional ombudsmen. Currently he does not perform such duty. Moreover, the law states that the ombudsman is accountable to the president and provides annual reports on his work. This report should give assessment of the current situation in the sphere of protecting children’s rights and interest in the country, suggestions how to improve the legal situation.
The candidates for the position of a regional ombudsman should be agreed with the federal ombudsman. The rule hasn’t existed before.
The regional ombudsman should report to the federal ombudsman and to the local governor on the situation with children’s right protection in the region.
