The Mothers' Rights Foundation

In 1989 an article concerning the deaths of many soldiers in Russia's armed forces during peace time appeared in the newspaper "Youth." Shortly thereafter, a group of people dedicated to protecting the rights of parents whose sons had died while serving in the army began to form around the article's author, Veronika Marchenko. A year later this group become the "Mothers' Rights Foundation." Ms. Marchenko was chosen as the foundation's chairperson. The Foundation's governing board and president serve voluntarily and without pay.

Today, the Mothers' Rights Foundation provides many services, including:

• Offering free legal assistance for the families of soldiers killed while serving in Russia's armed forces during peacetime
• The publication of a newsletter descibing the activities of the Fund as well as a book commemorating the victims of human rights violations in the army
• Providing financial assistance and psychological counseling for parents of murdered soldiers
• Gathering and disseminating information on human rights violations in the Russian army
• Lobbying the Russian government for an investigation of human rights violations in the armed forces

Last updated:    April 1998

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

CCSI Home	Announcements	Eurasia	Opinion/Analysis	Bookstore	Site Map	Search
	Center for Civil Society International Ideas and information for civic action worldwide