54%
of Russians said the right to free medical care was their most important right.
The right to work was slightly less important for them, with only 51% of respondents calling this significant, while the right to free education was important for 48% of respondents. Interestingly, the right to life was far from first on the list – it was considered significant for 46% of Russians.
The least ‘popular’ was the freedom to disseminate information in any legal way (3%) and the freedom of assembly, rallies and demonstrations (3% each).
These results were obtained in a nationwide survey of 2,000 Russians conducted in 2013 as part of HSE’s Civil Society Monitoring of the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonprofit Sector with the support of HSE’s Basic Research Programme. Information was collected by the Public Opinion Foundation.
See also:
Researchers Discuss How the Pandemic Is Changing Civic Activism
In October, HSE University held the 10th Conference of Civil Society Researchers, organized by the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and Nonprofit Sector. The main topic of this anniversary forum was ‘The impact of the crisis on the development of the nonprofit sector and citizen self-organization in Russia: New realities and prospects’. The conference was co-organized by the Association "European University for Volunteering" (EUV) and the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), a long-time partner of the centre.
Yale Professor Discusses Political Theory with HSE Students
On March 15, HSE’s School of Cultural Studies welcomed Professor Ian Shapiro from Yale University to talk on two very hot topics: ‘Power and Domination in Political Theory’ and ‘Human Rights in the Contemporary World and Their Prospects’. The presentations were followed by a round table which gave participants further opportunity to engage with this internationally renowned expert in political science. Professor Shapiro’s latest book, Politics against Domination, is soon to be published for the first time in the Russian language.
HSE Legal Expert Maria Smirnova Begins Service with the UN
In early September 2017, Senior Researcher at the IOE Center for Education Law Maria Smirnova, PhD, began her term as an Associate Officer with the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights Administration. Maria’s role involves supporting the organization and holding of the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, during September 11–29, 2017.
12th ISTR Conference: HSE Researchers Presented Record Number of Papers
The 12th International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) Conference took place in Stockholm and was entitled ‘The Third Sector in Transition:Accountability, Transparency, and Social Inclusion’. The conference is held biannually and is a major academic event in its field.
‘We are Interested in the Experience of Countries that Face the Same Problems as We Do’
From May 24 – 25, 2016, HSE hosted an international human rights conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Russia’s accession to the Council of Europe. The conference entitled ‘Human Rights Education and Research in the Promotion of the Council of Europe Standards’ was organized by HSE (Department of Theory and History of Law), the Council of Europe, and the Presidential Council on the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC). The forum attracted Russian lawyers and professors involved in human rights studies, their colleagues in Europe, as well as officials and diplomats involved in Russia’s accession to and work in the Council of Europe.
76%
of Russians believe that ordinary customers shouldn’t worry about product manufacturing having a negative effect on the environment, people or animals. Instead, they believe that this should be a concern for the state and businesses.
42%
of Russians are not currently willing to pay additionally for goods that are produced in line with ethical principles (e.g., respect for the environment, respect for workers' rights, refusal to test cosmetics on animals, etc.).
Evgeny Yasin to Head Council on the Role of Civil Society and Human Rights in Economic Modernization
Evgeny Yasin, Academic Supervisor at HSE, has been named head of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions Development and Human Rights. The decision by the Council follows an initiative by Irina Khakamada, who previously headed the council.
88%
of Russians feel responsible for what takes place in the building and surrounding yard where they live.
'Urban Movements and Local Civic Activism are the Most Flourishing and Productive Sides of Contemporary Russian Society'
Christian Frohlich has been a Research Fellow at the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and Non-Profit Sector since 2014. This year he is being fast tracked for tenure in the HSE Faculty of Social Sciences in the School of Sociology. Dr Frohlich has a DPhil in Sociology from Leipzig University, Germany. He spoke to HSE English News about his research into civic activism in Russia and about why he likes living and working in Moscow.