ABSTRACT
There are a number of bodies currently operating within the Russian political system which meet the definition of what are commonly described as National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). This type of institution can have a range of roles in terms of protecting human rights, including monitoring the human rights situation. The council issues reports and recommendations and makes representations to the president on a range of issues affecting human rights and civil society organisations, although it has no decision-making power. Russia has established the institutions of the human rights ombudsman and child rights ombudsman, which exist at both the federal and regional levels. The federal child rights ombudsman has a slightly different status in that his office is incorporated within the structure of the presidential administration. The activities of the federal-level human rights and child rights ombudsmen provide a useful overview of the type of social rights concerns and violations which are raised by the general public.
