"The organization is to be aimed at forming an ideology and culture of the protection of human rights and freedoms," the organization's Charter says.
The new body will include members of Russia's Public Chamber, leaders of social organizations, scientists, lawyers, parliamentarians, and various celebrities.
"Our idea is to breathe new life into the human rights movement. Dissidence and appeals to the West have not justified themselves," the business daily Kommersant quoted Alexander Brod, the director at the organization's Moscow bureau, as saying.
"We will not criticize, but will cooperate," Brod said.
European rights groups have strongly criticized Russia's human rights record, accusing the Kremlin of clamping down on democracy and freedom of speech, and using brutal methods against militants in Chechnya and other North Caucasus republics.
Russia, in turn, has accused Western governments of using human rights as a pretext to try to interfere in the country's domestic affairs.
