MOSCOW, February 12 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Child Rights Commissioner Anna Kuznetsova has sent proposals on follow-up of orphans after they leave their residential care facilities to the Chair of the lower house of the Russian Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin, the Ombudsman’s press-service informs.

A working group has been created to develop this initiative, the statement reads. Among the members of the new group are representatives of federal authorities, experts, civil society activists, and orphans themselves. The group has worked out amendments, which its members believe need to be made to the federal law on social assistance to orphans and children without parental support.

The changes, according to Kuznetsova’s statement, include the introduction of post-orphanage follow-up procedure to be financed by regions, which are to determine the respective legal framework. Community service organizations are to be granted the right to carry out this work as well, the document reads.

Kuznetsova hopes that the relevant State Duma committee will study the proposals as soon as possible, since at present the legislation lacks such a mechanism, whereas the respective practices differ significantly across Russia’s regions.

At the same time, the statement reads, after leaving their residential care facilities, orphans frequently fail to use their right for higher education, whereas the lack of mechanisms preparing them for responsible life results in many negative consequences, among them involvement in crimes.