Strengthening Russia’s sovereignty emerged as a primary goal for the state in 2023. Throughout the year, the Civic Chamber, collaborating with other civil society institutions, engaged in persistent efforts towards this goal.
Recognizing the significant role of the civil society in addressing state challenges, the President of Russia met with the new, VIIIth Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on the eve of the Day of National Unity. A key topic of discussion was the status of Russia’s new regions.
The head of state concurred with the pivotal role of the Coordination Council, established with the support of the Civic Chamber, for integrating the new regions of the Russian Federation. This council serves as an effective mechanism for facilitating dialogue between residents of new territories and government bodies. He endorsed the idea of preparing a report in 2024 to review the progress of integrating these new subjects.
The foundation of sovereignty development is rooted in the preservation and strengthening of traditional spiritual and moral values. Currently, members of the Civic Chamber and deputies of the State Duma are collaboratively working on a legislative initiative. This initiative aims to enshrine in the relevant regulatory document a new directive for the work of civic chambers and public councils under federal executive bodies – focusing on preserving, strengthening, and popularizing traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. In light of the President of Russia’s Executive Order signed on November 22, 2023, proclaiming 2024 as the Year of the Family in Russia, these legislative changes will enable civil society institutions to particularly focus in the upcoming year on state-level decisions in this sphere, supporting public initiatives, and addressing the implementation of projects dedicated to protecting the social rights of families with children and reinforcing traditional family values as stipulated by the Russian Constitution.
A critical issue in this domain, demanding urgent action, is ensuring the sustainable growth of Russia’s population. The Civic Chamber, acknowledging the necessity to develop new and effective management tools for demographic and family policy, will continue in 2024 its longstanding efforts with extensive public involvement to develop and promote at the state level new comprehensive measures supporting birth rates and large families.
Successfully instilling traditional values in Russian society is intrinsically linked to the advancement of the education system and the patriotic upbringing of Russia’s young citizens. In this respect, substantial collaborative work continues between the state and public institutions.
A key component of this initiative is the expansion of collaboration with the Russian Movement of Children and Youth “Movement of the First” to explore opportunities for the movement’s development and to address the needs and interests of the younger generation that can be realized within the framework of the Russian Movement of Children and Youth (RMCY). Recognizing the significance of the course “Fundamentals of Russian Statehood,” the Civic Chamber intends to conduct monitoring of its implementation in the coming year.
A consistently high-priority topic for the Civic Chamber in 2024 will be supporting the development of the nonprofit sector. Noting the growing role of nonprofit organizations in the life of Russian society and their involvement in addressing some of the country’s most complex developmental challenges, the Civic Chamber will aim to create optimally favorable conditions for the growth of the third sector across the Russian Federation. In line with this goal, the ongoing development of the annual “Region- NPO” ranking will continue. This ranking, assessing the dynamics of the third sector’s development in regions, has evolved over recent years into not only a catalyst for the sector’s growth but also an effective tool for public oversight of its level and quality within the regions of Russia.
In close collaboration with the relevant authorities, further advancements will be made in improving legislative regulations concerning the activities of nonprofit organizations.
In 2024, the Civic Chamber will continue to use its platform to engage in discussions on pressing issues related to sustainable development and the ecological safety of the country. Special emphasis will be placed on public discussions of initiatives aimed at enhancing legal regulations in waste management, as well as mechanisms for rational and responsible consumption. Issues concerning the comprehensive development and improvement of settlements, improving the ecological situation, creating a comfortable and accessible living environment for citizens, and ensuring the connectivity of the country’s territories will also be a focus.
Additionally, the Civic Chamber will persist in its role of public oversight regarding the implementation of the Russian President’s executive orders on preserving the country’s unique biodiversity and the rehabilitation of its significant water bodies. In the educational sphere, there will be continued development of initiatives for building an effective system of environmental education in the Russian Federation, with particular attention to engaging children and youth in this process.
A major and impactful sociopolitical event in the upcoming year will undoubtedly be the Presidential elections of the Russian Federation. The public observation system has already commenced its operations to oversee the preparation and conduct of the Russian Presidential elections. This effort, with the direct involvement of the Civic Chamber, will be systematically expanded and enhanced in 2024.343
An important and in-demand initiative, highlighted by the Civic Chamber’s experts, is the creation of a system of guarantees and compensations for observers, which includes providing rest days for those engaged in public oversight of electoral processes. A thorough discussion on these matters is scheduled on the platform of the Civic Chamber in 2024.
In 44regions of the Russian Federation, public observation headquarters have been established and are operational.*
* As of December 12, 2023.
Over 200 ths. candidates
are planned to be trained as public observers for the upcoming Russian Presidential elections.
Events of 2023 have underscored that Russia is an inseparable part of the global community. Its participation is essential for achieving a balance in international relations and for fostering productive dialogues between nations at the forums of international organizations and institutions. Amidst the accelerating transformation processes towards a new, multipolar world order, 2024 is set to be a year of expanded direct contacts between civil society representatives from different countries, establishing a solid foundation for future fruitful intergovernmental cooperation.
The Civic Chamber, for its part, intends to continue productive interactions within the framework of its membership in the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS). This includes bilateral formats, particularly focusing on enhancing the work initiated in 2023 to establish and expand partnership cooperation with civil society representatives from Latin America and the African continent. The Civic Chamber plans to use public diplomacy mechanisms to facilitate integration processes in the Eurasian space, develop electoral diplomacy through participation in monitoring elections and referendums abroad, and maintain as one of its priority activities the support of Russian compatriots overseas and the promotion of patriotic projects by compatriots in foreign countries.