Human Rights Council proposes inspecting all Russian orphanages
MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The Russian Presidential Human Rights Council has proposed holding public debates and thoroughly inspecting Russian orphanages before passing a bill banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens.
Human Rights Council Chairman Mikhail Fedotov hosted consultations on Wednesday with Council members and experts regarding the passage by the State Duma of a bill retaliating against the U.S. Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 at the second reading.
"Council member Kirill Kabanov proposed supporting the passage of this bill provided that the following preconditions are observed: first, the adoption of orphans is not politically tied to the Magnitsky Act and is regulated by a separate bill imposing a ban on international adoptions of Russian children by citizens of any foreign countries, which should undergo a broad public discussion before it is considered by the State Duma," the Human Rights Council said on Wednesday.
Another precondition set by Kabanov is the adoption of bill No. 3138-6 "On public control over guarantees of the rights of orphans and children without parental custody," which was drawn up by the Human Rights Council, submitted to the Duma on December 28, 2011 and passed on March 16, 2012 in the first reading.
"As the third mandatory precondition, Kirill Kabanov said the Council should appeal to the president to instruct the Interior Ministry, the Health Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry, the Education and Science Ministry, the Labor Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office to conduct comprehensive inspections of all institutions where children without parental custody are held," the council said.
Such inspections are necessary "to determine the conditions of their lives, education and leisure, ensure the observance of financial discipline and stimulate the transfer of children to adoptive and foster families."