ABSTRACT
For more than 15 years, people in the northern Caucasus, particularly in Chechnya, have experienced tremendous difficulties dealing with challenges such as insurgency, economic malaise, and lack of adequate health care and social services, among numerous other problems. The “generation of survivors,” as they are often called, believes in positive political and economic development (Chechnya Advocacy Network). Nevertheless, the loss of loved ones, memories of atrocities, enormous adversity, and the constant feeling of threat has deeply scarred millions of men, women, children, and elders in Russia and Chechnya. While politicians were debating the ways to stop violence and resolve the conflict, many groups—religious and civil, international and local—were driven to act and help those trapped in conflict. Often unknown and unrecognized, these groups are actively engaged in raising awareness about human rights, security, and socioeconomic problems in the region. Various organizations advocate for effective humanitarian assistance and political solutions to the conflict. They offer innovative projects and extend partnership within civil society.
