All the best: NGOs will be able to attract to the strengthening of traditional values

A new foundation for the creation of non—profit organizations may appear in Russia - it is the preservation and strengthening of spiritual and moral values. An inter-factional bill on this is planned to be submitted to the State Duma, now it has been sent for review to the government. There are no such grounds in the legislation on NGOs, however, there are tasks to meet the spiritual and non-material needs of citizens. The authors of the initiative hope that the new approach will make it possible to systematically integrate the non-profit sector into the implementation of government tasks: to improve the demographic situation, promote the introduction of value orientations in educational programs, and counteract the falsification of history.

How will NGOs be created

A new goal for which non-profit organizations will be created may be the preservation and strengthening of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. The draft law expanding the list of tasks for NGOs has been sent to the Government for review by the Committee for the Development of Civil Society, Public and Religious Associations. As the chairman of the committee, Yana Lantratova, told Izvestia, it will be introduced inter-factionally.

Currently, non-profit organizations can be created to achieve social, charitable, cultural, educational, scientific and managerial goals. In addition, this list includes tasks to protect the health of citizens and the development of physical culture and sports, as well as to meet spiritual and other non—material needs, protect rights, and provide legal assistance.

The explanatory document to the amendments notes that the preservation and strengthening of traditional spiritual and moral values is among the priorities of Russian state policy. At the same time, traditional values are closely linked to culture, education and upbringing.

"Non—profit organizations engaged in these areas can contribute to the implementation of value orientations in educational programs, support cultural initiatives, and counteract the falsification of history," the document says.

The expansion and specification of the list of tasks and goals of NGOs will make it possible to "systematically integrate the non-profit sector into the implementation of state policy," the explanatory note says. Thus, it is noted there, non-profit organizations will be able to help in the work to protect sovereignty and strengthen the unity of society, in solving demographic problems. In addition, the proposed changes will ensure the support of socially significant projects in the field of culture, education and family.

Many NGOs are already working in the fields of culture, education, assistance to families, and veterans, but often without a clear legislative definition of their role in the context of values, Yana Lantratova told Izvestia.

"Now they will receive additional legitimacy and support for their initiatives aimed at preserving cultural heritage, developing folk traditions, moral education and other important aspects," she explained. — Providing NGOs with such an important field of activity enhances their role as active participants in the country's development.

According to her, the expansion of the list will provide and consolidate for non-profit organizations not only the right, but also the responsibility for creating a moral climate in society.

High stakes: how the authorities cut off NGOs from helping those in need

The Sverdlovsk authorities lost a court case against the social activists and excluded them from the register of social service providers.

How NGOs promote traditional values

However, a number of experts interviewed believe that the amendments are redundant. Thus, Oleg Matyunin, a lawyer and a public figure for the protection of business, noted that there is no ban on the creation and operation of NGOs aimed at preserving, strengthening and popularizing traditional spiritual and moral values.

—And the law cannot and should not list all possible options for applying each of its norms in specific situations," he said. — Moreover, the law explicitly states that other goals aimed at achieving public benefits are possible in the activities of NGOs.

Janis Yukshi, a public figure and lawyer, believes that specifying the goals in the law is still necessary.

— Non-profit organizations have a targeted legal capacity: they are created with a specific purpose, — he noted.

And Elena Topoleva-Soldunova, chairman of the commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for the development of the non-profit sector, believes that the proposed amendments reflect the existing reality.: NGOs are already engaged in the promotion of spiritual and moral values, investing them in their main activities — the development of local communities and territories, assistance to the disabled and children in orphanages, etc.

— In fact, the activities of NGOs already correspond to the values of the state, the non—profit sector acts in accordance with them, - she explained.

However, according to her, it is difficult now to assess whether it is necessary to consolidate such a task in the law.

"But if it entails benefits for NGOs, then we can think about it," the expert said.

And Sergey Polozov, a representative of the All-Russian Stopnarkotik public Movement, suggested that the amendments encourage NGOs to create projects that meet the needs of the state and society.