G8 human rights activists to sum up results of Russia’s G8 presidency

December 2

Representatives of Russian and foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the Civil G8 project have gathered for a conference in Moscow to sum up the results of Russia's G8 presidency.

Ella Pamfilova, the head of the presidential council on civil society institutions and human rights, said: "More than 2,000 NGOs from 58 countries took part in the Civil G8 hosted by Russia. Among other things, they shared their proposals and recommendations on the topics of the G8 meetings with politicians and summit participants," she said.

More than 80 representatives of Russian and foreign NGOs, including delegates from Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International, the International Council of Women, the International Consumers Union and other environmental and human rights organizations, are taking part in the conference. Pamfilova thanked those gathered for their active participation in the Civil G8 and highlighted "the special importance of their recommendations."

Traditionally, consultations with NGOs from various countries are held ahead of G8 leaders' meetings to outline civil society's opinion of issues prioritized by the country presiding over the G8. This time the focus is on energy security, education and the fight against infectious diseases. However, participants in the "nongovernmental summit" will not limit themselves to these issues alone. Pamfilova said that a roundtable on Africa was held as part of the Civil G8 project, which offered a range of "proposals on poverty eradication in Africa."

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