Training Ethnic Communities to Protect Their Rights

About this grant

In Russia, xenophobia and ethnic discrimination are increasing. While human rights organizations are working to address these issues, ethnic minority organizations are underdeveloped. There is a critical need to build the organizational capacities of ethnic minority organizations, especially in effective interaction with the government and Russian public.Multiyear funding will enable the Center for Interethnic Cooperation (CEIC) to conduct six, two-day training seminars in Ekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Perm and Rostov-on-the-Don. Participants in each location will include leaders and representatives from local ethnic communities, representatives of the local authorities, trainers and a CEIC representative. Seminar participants will form the core of a newly created Network of Ethnic Communities. At the end of each year, a two-day seminar will be held in Moscow to build cooperation among ethnic organizations on issues of rights protection.CEIC, established in 1997, works to combat discrimination of ethnic minorities in Russia and foster cooperation among different ethnic groups and government agencies responsible for interethnic relations.