10/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Human rights consultations. Last week (4 May), the 13th round of EU-Russia human rights consultations were held in Brussels. According to a Council press release, the talks proved “open and constructive”, focusing on rule of law, the working of civil society, cooperation in international fora, and the fight against discrimination. The rights of the child were also discussed. The EU raised a number of “concerns” relating to specific human rights issues in the Russian Federation, the press release states. Individual cases of human rights activists and journalists were also evoked. Other issues discussed related to racism and discrimination against homosexuals and the freedom of association and expression in Russia. EU representatives had met on 6 April with international NGOs in Brussels and with Russian NGOs on 13-14 April in Moscow, in order to prepare the meeting. The next EU-Russia dialogue meeting on human rights is scheduled to take place during the autumn this year. (H.B./transl.jl)