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Ms. Ofelia Calcetas-Santos visited Moscow and St. Petersburg from 2 to 11 October 2000, in the context of her mandate and met with officials of the following ministries; the Ministries of Labour and Social Development, of Foreign Affairs, of Justice, of Education, of the Press and Mass Media, of the Interior, and of Health. She had meetings at the General Prosecutor's Office and with the Committee on Women, Family and Youth Affairs of the State Duma, the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation and, in St. Petersburg, with the Committee on Family Childhood and Youth Issues, the Children's Rights Ombudsman and the Federation of Trade Unions. The mission also involved visits to State institutions, including orphanages and medical centres, and meetings with United Nations agencies and other international organizations, with academics and with NGOs. Ms. Calcetas-Santos also carried out on-site evening visits to observe the situation of children living on the streets. The report reflects her findings regarding the situation with regard to the sale of children (in the context of international adoption), child prostitution and child pornography. The Special Rapporteur also considers the problem of child labour. Particularly problematic is the plight of "social orphans” - children without any effective care givers in their lives. The report examines some of the reasons for the steady increase in the numbers of children thus affected, particularly drug and alcohol abuse, and familial violence. Statistics relevant to social orphans, particularly in the context of sexual exploitation, are provided. |
