- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $150,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2007–December 31, 2009
- Location St. Petersburg, Russia
- Geographic Focus Russia, Russia
About this grant
The program goal is to strengthen institutions and mechanisms in Russia that ensure people’s rights are respected and that laws and policies to protect these rights are promulgated and implemented. Citizens’ Watch, a leading watchdog and advocacy organization located in Saint Petersburg, will strive to: promote citizens’ access to justice; reform the police service and the police education system; protect crime victims’ rights; and combat racism and ethnic intolerance. To date, Citizens’ Watch has had success in piloting juvenile probation services, in fostering independence of magistrates’ courts, and in promoting tolerance education both in ordinary schools and in police training programs. While its programs focus on Northwest Russia, they also serve to create models that can be replicated throughout the country.