Promoting peace from below : an analysis of the working conditions for NGOs promoting children’s rights in Russia

Abstract

This thesis looks into the working conditions for international NGOs in Russia, focusing on a children’s rights organization. The main objective of this thesis is to direct focus on how NGOs can contribute to promote sustainable peace from below and improve children’s situation in Russia. Children in Russia are experiencing different challenges; this is often due to socio-economic instabilities and political problems. Consequently these factors have effects on children growing up within the Russian Federation and have effects on children’s lives. UNICEF reports that number of children living on the streets is increasing. Thus, Save the Children is concerned about the high numbers of street-children and child neglect. Therefore, this thesis will regard the situation for children in Russia by relating Save the Children Norway in Russia’s efforts on promoting children’s rights and peaceful developments at the individual level. When focusing on NGOs efforts for children in Russia, one needs to regard the working conditions for NGOs in the Russian context, and thus how Save the Children in this case, can work within the civil society and according to their objectives.