All news

Medvedev to chair meeting on better state protection of rights of underage crime victims

Participants will discuss amendments to Russian laws to improve the rights of crime victims in criminal procedure
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, November 16 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday will chair a meeting on measures to be taken to ensure better state protection of the rights of underage crime victims, the government’s press service reported.

Taking part in the meeting will be Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov, children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov, chairwoman of the State Duma security and anti-corruption committee Irina Yarovaya, and officials from sectoral ministries and agencies.

Participants will discuss amendments to Russian laws to improve the rights of crime victims in criminal procedure.

Over the nine months of 2012, more than 10,000 criminal cases were opened on charges of crimes committed against children. The figure account for 10.8 percent of the overall number of criminal cases (101,504) opened in this period. The most vulnerable category of children are neglected children, children from problem families, and parentless children.

The amendments expand procedural rights of crime victims, including minors. It will create necessary conditions to realize the principle of competition and equality of parties and will ensure protection of rights and legal interests of crime victims. A number of amendments are aimed to solve the problem of compensation for harm done to crime victims.