Before the current war, Lam focused on preserving Chechnya's intellectual and cultural heritage. It produced and distributed recordings of musical, theatrical, and  dance programs, published books on cultural topics, and organized regular meetings of intellectuals on cultural, legal and human rights topics.

Since the outbreak of the war, Lam has focused on providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, providing information to international relief organizations on how best to deliver humitarian aid, trying to bring an end to the war, and disseminating information about the crisis and about war crimes.

In its information dissemination efforts, Lam works closely with the Andrei Sakharov Museum in Moscow, IDEE-Warsaw, and IDEE. In the spring of 2000 Lam became the Chechen Center for Pluralism,  a member of IDEE's transregional network of NGOs dedicated to promoting democratic ideas and principles.

In June 2000, with support from IDEE, Lam held a conference in Nazran, Ingushetia on The Crisis in Chechnya and Prospects for its Resolution. The conference attracted approximately 100 participants from Grozny, Argun, Shali, and other towns and villages in Chechnya, and included teachers, lawyers, doctors, and artists, as well as representatives of social and political movements. At the conclusion of the conference, the participants issued a statement on the situation in Chechnya.

In December 2000, Lam representatives Lecha Ilyasov and Edilbek Khasmagomadov visited Washington. Their visit was sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy and organized by IDEE. They held meetings with government, human rights, and humanitarian representatives, and made a public presentation at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

In December 2000 and January 2001, Lam issued three appeals to the international community: Save the City of Grozny, Stop Genocide in Chechnya, and an Appeal for Continuation of Humanitarian Aid to Chechnya.

In March 2001, Lam issued a statement condemning March 24 car bombings in Yessentuki, Mineralnie Vody, and Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

In March, 2001, Lam organized a conference in Moscow at which Chechens from a wide variety of backgrounds discussed possible solutions to the conflict. The conference passed a resolution calling for a peaceful settlement to the conflict, for Chechnya's future status to be decided by referendum, and for access for international observers.

Members of Lam also work with IDEE to produce Dispatches from Chechnya a publication that includes information on such topics as war crimes, other abuses committed by Russian troops, the distribution of humanitarian aid, conditions in refugee camps, and on the ground conditions in Chechnya including the status of education, culture and health services, and day to day living conditions for civilians.
 

Lam may be contacted through: The Andrei Sakharov Museum, Zemlianoy val, 57, bld.6 107120 Moscow, RUSSIA Tel: (7095) 923 4401 Fax: (7095) 917 2653 E-mail: [email protected]