In April 2011 the Center for Reproductive Rights and the All Russian Family Planning Association (currently known as Russian Association for Population and Development – RAPD) submitted a shadow letter to the 46th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR Committee) on the situation of women and girls’ sexual and reproductive rights in the Russian Federation. The letter highlights the need for safe and comprehensive abortion services, affordable contraceptive methods, and mandatory sexuality education in schools, as well as the need to increase efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly mother-to-child transmission.