U.S.-Russia Civil Society Summit Preliminary Report

On July 6 and 7, 2009 over 75 civil society leaders from Russia and the United States met in Moscow to exchange views and experience on challenges that confront both countries. The conference aimed to move Russian‐American collaboration beyond traditional models of foreign assistance toward more equitable engagement to address issues that have real meaning in the lives of ordinary citizens. The civil society conference coincided with a summit meeting between the Presidents of Russia and the United States that resulted in agreements that set the bilateral relationship on a firmer and more cooperative footing. The conference was organized around the following six lines of work:

• Public Health
• Community Development
• Human Rights and Rule of Law
• Youth and Education
• Press and New Media
• Environment

Working groups covering each topic discussed shared challenges, developed recommendations for improved collaboration, and proposed concrete joint projects. During the meeting each group prepared a short summary of preliminary conclusions. These summaries are attached hereto, unedited. A full report of the conference proceedings with detailed recommendations is available here.