Last week the Eurasian Women’s Forum took place in the Taurida Palace in St.-Petersburg. Representatives of executive power bodies, business circles, scientific communities, social organizations and activities of the international women’s movement from 80 countries of the world gathered at the forum.
Veronica Krasheninnikova, Director General of the Institute of Foreign Policy Research and Initiatives, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, stated that the Forum was held on such a scale in Russia for the first time. “The political situation in the world today dictates the connection of additional channels for solving urgent problems. And here women can certainly play a major role. We can state the tendency towards consolidation of the forces of international women's sorority. Certainly there is public demand for humanization of foreign policy. Women more wisely, more carefully, in a more humane way approach the addressing of war and peace issues.”
Krasheninnikova pointed out certain spheres in which women could play a more significant role: “Firstly, since the economic crisis continues in many parts of the world, it is the preservation of the social functions of the state in the economic crisis conditions. Provision of accessible, qualitative health and social care. Secondly, the development of a more humane policy towards migrants and refugees. For Europe this issue is extremely pressing. Thirdly, improvement of the system of protection of the family, motherhood and childhood. And finally, as for international politics in general, it is really its humanization. Reliance on the ideals of peace, harmony and social well-being. Women cannot exclude themselves from everything that is happening in the world. And with men, they have to take responsibility for the welfare of the world.”
Galina Karelova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, said that such a format of meeting of women turned out to be very much in demand: “The geography of the participants of the forum has gone far beyond Eurasia, naturally, and that is why the forum was so global, a large-scale event, which discussed the issues that concern almost all women of the world today. These are the problems of peace, social well-being and harmony in the broadest sense of the word. We did not plan to put a number of issues to discussion, including a desire of some Western countries to isolate Russia. However, it emerged, and women expressed their protest, and this is reflected in the final document, against all sanctions that hinder dialogue in the world as a whole, international dialogue, a dialogue between women.”
According to Karelova, a new discussion platform for dialogue between women of the world was born at the forum: “It was decided to hold the Eurasian Women's Forum every three years. The three-year period of preparation for the next forum will allow us to achieve an agenda which is already the most important from the point of view of women.”
