Russian Duma and Russian NGOs

ASI informs us that the Russian Duma (equivalent to House of Representatives) is planning to invite Russian NGOS to participate in the round table talks about children’s rights this month. This hopefully will bring Russian authorities and NGOs closer together which in very important in today’s Russia where authorities underestimate NGO’s role and potential and the latter are skeptical towards the Russian government efforts to resolve social problems. It sounds that some Duma officials value the NGO’s experience in working with socially vulnerable population and their expertise of the social needs, and are trying to make them heard.