Russia - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 30, May 14, 2018
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada is deeply concerned by the deterioration of the state of human rights in the Russian Federation, and, in particular by the Government’s violations of the human rights of minorities and of human rights defenders.

Canada recommends that the Russian Federation:

1. Ensure the exercise of political competition through free and fair elections, including equitable access to the political process.
2. Revise or repeal legislation that unduly limits the freedoms of association, assembly, expression, religion or belief, including the “foreign agents” law, and the law on “undesirable organizations”.
3. Prevent and investigate beatings, threats and trials based on dubious charges – of human-rights defenders, journalists, political actors and civil society.
4. Investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially instances of hate-based violence, including reports of mass detentions, torture and killings of LGBTI individuals in Chechnya in 2017.

Canada reiterates that Russia must cease violations of the human rights of minorities and human rights defenders on the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, the Russian Federation received 365 recommendations, of which 242 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 67%). Canada’s previous recommendations were related to the protection of civil society, the rights of minorities, and judicial reform.

Russia is party to several international and European human rights conventions, and the respect for fundamental human rights and the rule of law is enshrined in its constitution. However, since the last UPR in 2013, the Russian government has enacted and amended a wide range of federal legislation, curtailing the fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. International non-governmental organizations, civil society representatives, think tanks and independent media have all noted the deterioration in human rights protection in Russia and warn of the shrinking space for civil society, including human rights advocacy.  

The 2012 “foreign agents” law and the 2015 law on “undesirable organizations” are examples of legislation used to impose significant restrictions on independent civil society groups. In November 2017, the “foreign agents” label was expanded to include foreign media outlets, stigmatising foreign media operating in Russia.

The exercise of freedom of assembly is another ongoing challenge in Russia. Credible reports noted that Russia’s recent Presidential Elections took place in a highly controlled legal and political environment, marked by continued pressure on critical voices. A popular opposition candidate was barred from running in the elections, and government critics across the country were harassed or arbitrarily detained in their attempts to hold peaceful protests.

Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, remains a serious problem in Russia. In February 2017, a law was passed to decriminalize certain forms of domestic abuse. There is continued discrimination and repressions against the LGBTI community, particularly as a result of the 2013 adoption of the federal “gay-propaganda” law. In Chechnya, a year after credible reports emerged of persecution of LGBTI individuals in the spring of 2017, human rights activists indicate that there has still not been any credible investigation into the reported abuses.

In the North Caucasus region, the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders has presented alarming grounds for concern. Neither local, nor federal authorities have publically condemned attacks against human rights defenders and journalists in the region.

Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014 has led to reported severe human rights violations by Russian authorities, including the suppression of freedom of expression and association, arbitrary arrests, torture, detentions and disappearances. A major concern remains the disproportionate targeting of the Crimean Tatar community.