Russian Government failed to avoid criticism by UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights takes the stand of the Russian NGOs that presented at the 31st session of the commission in Geneva their report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Russian Federation, parallel with the Russian Government's report. Nearly all cardinal problems touched upon in the alternative report by the Russian NGOs are reflected in the Concluding Observations of the Committee, which were officially published. The Committee critically evaluated the situation with the implementation of the afore-mentioned Covenant in Russia, welcoming only 5 positive aspects and giving 30 concrete recommendations to improve the situation. The state of people in the Chechen Republic is noted in the context of this group of rights. The Committee urges the Russian Federation "to allocate sufficient funds to reinstate basic services, including the health and education infrastructure, in the Chechen Republic" and "to guarantee that timely and adequate compensation is duly provided to all persons whose property has been destroyed during the military operations in Chechnya." It also reminds Russia "of its obligation under the Covenant to ensure the provision of adequate temporary housing for those people who fear that Chechnya is too insecure for them to return."