On 22 September, High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatiana Moskalkova took part in the panel discussion on the subject of youth and human rights within the framework of the 33rd session of the UN Council for Human Rights.

Tatiana Moskalkova told the audience about Russia’s experience in the field of human rights education for young people. In particular, for this purpose the Consortium of Russia’s Higher Educational Institutions and the UN High Commissioner’s Office, with direct assistance of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, has developed and implemented a master’s programme called ‘International Human Rights Protection’, the third lecture of which was given in September this year. Besides, annually the High Commissioner and regional ombudsmen conduct in-depth training of hundreds of students and graduates, give lectures at educational institutions, and provide consultations on various legal issues in mass media and on the Internet. Within the framework of the programme, the Public Television of Russia channel (OTR) broadcasts a programme ‘Human Rights’ each week.

The Terra Scientia International Youth Forum has become another unique format of human rights education for young people. Thousands of young men and women of Russia and other countries meet at an encampment on a river of Klyazma river to exchange their experience, gain knowledge and practical skills of working for public human rights organisations or any other organisation, to create their own business project in the social field.

"In our country we have successfully implemented a joint project of the Russia's High Commissioner and the UN High Commissioner called ‘International human rights standards and mechanisms for ombudsmen and their offices," Tatiana Moskalkova said.

However, the lack of a comprehensive human rights education system has been a problem for Russia and many other countries for many years. Human rights courses are conducted only in some educational institutions thanks to certain enthusiastic teachers and owing to grants. However, the High Commissioner continues working on the forming of the system to have it adopted at the state level.

In conclusion, Tatiana Moskalkova proposed to create an expert group within the framework of the UN HRC to develop unified human rights education standards for three groups of educational institutions:

• secondary schools;
• higher educational institutions (institutes, universities, academies);
• special courses of advanced training for judges, staff of special services, penitentiaries, police, and other law enforcement agencies and bodies.