Vladimir Putin met with members of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights and federal and regional human rights commissioners from all the different regions.

Mr Astakhov briefed the President on the results of work to protect children and families and developing various forms of family placement for children without parental care.

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov took part in the VII congress of Russian regional children’s rights commissioners, held on April 16–18 in Ufa, as well as a seminar for children’s rights commissioners and guardianship and custodial care authorities.

On March 19 and 20, the National Conference on Current Mechanisms for Protecting Families with Underage Children: The Best Russian Experience, was held in Yakutsk at the initiative of Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Pavel Astakhov.

Mr Astakhov briefed Vladimir Putin on the results of his work over the last three years, noting in particular that all 83 Russian regions now have children’s rights ombudsmen, inspections of children’s institutions have taken place in 77 regions, and an expert council has drafted the Russia Without Orphans programme.

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov had a meeting with representatives of public organizations to discuss the provisions of the project of the Russia Without Orphans Federal Targeted Programme.

The Russian-French Intergovernmental Commission on Family Dispute Resolution in Mixed Marriages held its first meeting in Paris.

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov held a news conference to summarise his work in 2012.

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov took part in a meeting of the Investigative Committee’s Board chaired by Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov held the first meeting of the Coordinating Council for Implementing the 2012–2017 National Children’s Interests Action Strategy.

During a meeting held at the Interior Ministry, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev signed a cooperation agreement.

Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov met with Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks.

The 6^th Congress of Commissioners for Children’s Rights in Russia’s Federal Constituent Entities opened in Kazan and will last for three days. Children’s rights commissioners from Russia’s 83 regions will participate in the Congress, along with representatives of federal agencies, NGOs and expert organisations. Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov and President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov participated in the Congress.

During a working meeting with Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov and Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, Dmitry Medvedev announced that he has signed into law amendments to a number of laws protecting children’s interests, in particular, the law on basic guarantees of children’s rights.

Pavel Astakhov submitted a report on the performance of the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights since his appointment to this post.

Dmitry Medvedev met with High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay.