- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $100,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2006–December 31, 2007
- Location St. Petersburg, Russia
- Geographic Focus Russia, Russia
About this grant
The Environmental Rights Center "Bellona" is a unique Russian organization that links the environment with human rights, nationally and internationally. It provides technical assistance, scientific and legal expertise, and information to citizens and Russian and international institutions on nuclear safety issues and the oil and gas industry.This grant will enable the center to promote human rights in a safe and favorable environment; monitor environmental and human rights abuses; and help citizens engage in environmental decisionmaking. In addition, the center will monitor Russian environmental legislation and provide legal counsel in cases of environmental violations.During the past two years, accomplishments included the production and international dissemination of a report on the need to reform the Russian nuclear industry. The center also published 10 editions each year of the Environment & Rights journal in printed editions and also electronically; trained 17 university students from St. Petersburg in professional environmental reporting skills; trained 26 law students in human rights advocacy who, in turn, provide technical assistance and legal counsel to a number of local non-governmental organizations; and provided legal counsel by staff lawyers to citizens on a wide range of environmental and human rights cases.