Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
Encyclopedia
The Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia works to expose human rights violations within the Russian military.
The organization was founded in 1989. Before 1998, it was known as the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia.
The organization is often labeled as a human rights
or peace
organization. Among the activities the organization is involved in is educating Russian civil society
on the rule of law
in relation to service in the military
, as well as informing society about what the armed forces should look like in a democratic society
. The organization also provides free legal advice to soldiers and their families about their rights and conscription
laws, as well as intervening on behalf of soldiers who are facing abuse and hazing
from their superiors and other more senior soldiers (dedovshchina
).
The Committee was awarded the Rafto Prize in 1995 and the Right Livelihood Award
in 1996.
The organization was founded in 1989. Before 1998, it was known as the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia.
The organization is often labeled as a human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
or peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
organization. Among the activities the organization is involved in is educating Russian civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
on the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
in relation to service in the military
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
, as well as informing society about what the armed forces should look like in a democratic society
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. The organization also provides free legal advice to soldiers and their families about their rights and conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
laws, as well as intervening on behalf of soldiers who are facing abuse and hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
from their superiors and other more senior soldiers (dedovshchina
Dedovshchina
Dedovshchina is the name given to the informal system of subjection of new junior conscripts, formerly to the Soviet Armed Forces and today to the Russian armed forces, Interior Ministry, and FSB border guards, as well as the military forces of certain former Soviet Republics, to brutalization...
).
The Committee was awarded the Rafto Prize in 1995 and the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
in 1996.