A press conference announcing the XVI Festival of Films on Human Rights ‘Stalker’ took place at the Central House of Journalists on 3 December. The festival will take place from 10 till 15 December at the House of Cinema in Moscow. It is the only international film festival on human rights in Russia. Traditionally, it begins on Human Rights Day, 10 December.

Igor Stepanov, Producer of ‘Stalker’ Film Festival, Executive Director of the Guild of Film Directors of Russia, introduced sponsors and partners of the festival, which included European Union delegation, the general sponsor of the festival, United Nations in the Russian Federation, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Embassies of Canada and Netherlands. Frode Mauring, UN Resident Coordinator in the RF, Dirk Hebecker, Senior Human Rights Adviser of UN Country Team in RF, Lidia Bardakova, UNFPA Representative in RF a.i. and Anna Chernyakhovskaya, Strategic Communications, Partnership and Advocacy Adviser of UNAIDS in RF represented the UN in the Russian Federation. The UN Day in the framework of ‘Stalker’ will take place on 12 December. UNHCR will present its programme dedicated to the rights of refugees on 11 December.

After partners of the festival presented themes and programmes of their respective days in the framework of the festival, Igor Stepanov introduced the Big Jury members, the NGO Jury, and the Festival Selection Commission. The more detailed information about the festival is at www.stalkerfest.org

Addressing the participants of the festival Frode Mauring said the following:

“I am very pleased that the United Nations in the Russian Federation continues a longstanding and fruitful collaboration with organisers and partners of the International Human Rights Festival ‘Stalker’.

The language of cinema is familiar and clear to everyone. The festival has long been a highly valued opportunity for the United Nations family in Russia and its individual agencies to talk in this language about human rights to a very wide audience. I would like to once again thank the Guild of Russian Film Directors, the organisers of the festival, for this opportunity.

This year, the UN Day of ‘Stalker’ will take place Sunday 12 December, and will be entitled ‘Speak Up… Stop Discrimination’. This is the theme of the Human Rights Day this year, focused on highlighting and promoting the achievements of human rights defenders who act against discrimination.

In our programme, you will see four feature and 15 documentary films. These films put into the limelight various aspects of human rights – those related to women, children, people living with HIV and people with disabilities.

It is particularly important to mention that today, 3 December, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We have in our programme a whole set of films about disabled people and produced with participation of people with disabilities. I am convinced that they will draw additional attention and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

The same as in the previous years, we have prepared two United Nations Awards to honour a feature and a documentary film in our programme. They go to the ones that most impressively reflect the theme of the UN Human Rights Day dedicated this year to Human Rights Defenders all over the world ‘Speak Up… Stop Discrimination’.

And finally, I would like to thank the UN entities in Russia that joined forces to support our participation in ‘Stalker’: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund. And of course, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that traditionally sponsors a separate day within ‘Stalker’.

My colleagues, head of these agencies are here today and I am happy to pass the floor to them. Thank you and I hope that you will enjoy the festival.

Participants of the press conference at the Central House of Journalist