A/HRC/23/34/Add.1 8. “Numerically small indigenous peoples”, a specific category under Russian law, consisting of some 316,000 persons, includes 47 groups2 mainly located in the North, Siberia and the Far East. These peoples are defined as “those who live in territories traditionally inhabited by their ancestors; maintain a traditional way of life and economic activity; number fewer than 50,000; and identify themselves as separate ethnic communities.”3 The Special Rapporteur notes that this definition does not cover larger groups that share similar characteristics and face comparable problems. 4 This may lead groups to either restrict population growth or to refrain from declaring actual numbers, should these exceed 50,000. 9. Estimates of the actual number of persons identifying with specific religions in the Russian Federation vary considerably. The most common religion remains Russian Orthodox, followed by Islam, Roman Catholicism, Judaism and Jehovah‟s Witnesses. Buddhism and Hinduism are also practised in the country, though to a lesser degree. B. Trends and challenges 10. In a country as vast as the Russian Federation, with a great diversity of ethnicities, languages and faiths, challenges to ensure the enjoyment of cultural rights by all are inevitable. 11. Overall, numerous interlocutors assess that, since the end of the Soviet Union, substantial progress has been made in achieving the enjoyment of greater artistic freedom and in the freedoms of expression, religion and participation in cultural life. However, some actors note a clampdown on freedom of expression in the past five years, including against art activists. 12. The scope for private support for cultural institutions, programmes and activities – negligible in Soviet times – has expanded. In parallel, however, State support for cultural activities and related infrastructure has generally decreased, especially in remote areas. The period 1990/2000 was particularly difficult in this regard. Since then, the State has increased initiatives to support cultural institutions. Debates continue on what should be the respective roles of the public and the private sectors in cultural matters. In that context, interlocutors expressed concern that, as in other countries, public respect for high forms of culture and artistic excellence has diminished drastically and is being replaced by commercially-oriented mass culture and entertainment.5 13. A number of interlocutors have noted the greater influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in public debates and cultural matters, including when identifying and interpreting the “cultural values” of the Russian Federation. While noting the Government‟s response 2 3 4 5 4 Third report submitted by the Russian Federation pursuant to article 25, paragraph 2 of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ACFC/SR/III(2010)005), 9 April 2010, p. 117; “Parallel information concerning the economic, social, and cultural rights of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation”, submitted by the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North and the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its fortysixth session (available from www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/ngos/IWGIA_RAIPON_RussianFederation_CESCR46.pd f), p. 6. A/HRC/15/37/Add.5, paras. 7-8. Ibid. See the profile of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe Compendium on Cultural Policies (www.culturalpolicies.net/web/russia.php), updated in December 2011, p. 3.