Russian Rights Council Head Suggests Holding World Human Rights Conference In Moscow

Mikhail Fedotov, the chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, suggested Tuesday holding the third World Conference on Human Rights in Moscow in 2023 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

ATHENS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd October, 2018) Mikhail Fedotov, the chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, suggested Tuesday holding the third World Conference on Human Rights in Moscow in 2023 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It woudl be nice to hold the third World Conference on Human Rights in Moscow in 2023 to commemorate the 75th anniversary," Fedotov told journalists in Athens.

He added that the council's initiative would be discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The new generation of human rights is emerging, new challenges in the field are arising ... This should be given consideration and discussed at a major platform," Fedotov indicated.

Fedotov also took the initiative to devise a national plan of action to further strengthen human rights record in Russia.

"[The council] is initiating the elaboration of such a national plan. This document might bring together all the strategic planning documents that we have.

This action plan will promote the interests of women, children, the disabled and national minorities. All this relates to human rights. Let's put it all together, coordinate it and find out where we have gaps and what we have overlooked," Fedotov indicated.

He added that Russia might become one of the leaders in promoting such approach toward human rights on the international arena.

Speaking about the international cooperation in the human rights field, Fedotov raised the issue of problems existing in dialogue with the United States. According to the Presidential Civil Society Council's chairman, the Russian side's invitation to cooperate in this field was rejected by Washington under the pretext that it did not work "with governmental organizations."

The first global conference on human rights was held in Teheran in April-May 1968, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had its 20th anniversary. The second World Conference on Human Rights was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna in June 1993.