Within the lecture, the Federal Ombudswoman has specifically noted the aspects, which make the programme – which is the first in the field of protection of human rights – unique, as well as that the cooperation between the Ombudsman's institute with the Consortium of Universities has become a tradition and already lasts for the sixth year in a row in the form of joint lectures, workshops, master classes, seminars, round tables, and excursions.

Special attention in the Federal Ombudswoman’s speech was devoted to the consideration of citizens’ complaints. Over the past five years, the Ombudsman in the Russian Federation received over 189 thousand applications. More than 38 thousands in 2019, and more than – more than 27 thousand within 9 months of 2020, many of which received help.

Additionally, the state human rights champion covered contemporary problems of ensuring rights and freedoms on the international level.

“The Institute of the Ombudsman is involved in international cooperation in difficult international political conditions. Today we are witnessing a growing tendency to politicize the problem of human rights in a number of states and the weakening the protective international legal mechanisms. Apprehension and detention of our citizens were carried out abroad on numerous occasions and without sufficient grounds”, said the Ombudswoman.

According to the federal Ombudswoman, the development of constructive dialogue and human rights diplomacy seems especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to such dialogue, the rights of thousands of people were protected in the first months of the spread of the virus, they were returned home, and reunited with their families. At the same time, the Ombudswoman provided support not only to Russians, but also to foreign citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Tatyana Moskalkova has also noted that the human rights work of the Ombudsman’s institute in the difficult conditions of the pandemic will continue, since at this time people especially need help, as the experience of previous months has shown.

Answering students’ questions, the Ombudsman once again emphasized the critical importance of ensuring social and economic rights in Russia.

“Discussions are underway on the adoption of the budget. <…> I must say that we have always supported and are supporting the social items of budget expenditures – medicine, education, housing, pensions and others”, said Tatyana Moskalkova.

In conclusion, the federal Ombudswoman congratulated the students on the start of the new academic year at the Human Rights Lecture Hall and wished their education to be interesting, and new discoveries and great success to be present.