Novosibirsk, Russia - An International Women’s Day forum on the theme of “Solidarity of Women in the Age of Globalization” took place in Novosibirsk on March 6. Among the participants were leaders of women’s NGOs, other NGOs, and Ambassadors for Peace. First, they read the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called upon governments and NGOs of all nations to consider the position of rural women.
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Then followed a lively discussion of the following issues: family values, educating children, and challenges parents face in raising children. A strong reaction was evoked by the report of the leader of the “Moral Russia” movement, Mr. Evgeny Bryndin, about the rate of abortions in Russia; as a result men and women came to the unanimous conclusion that not only women are to blame of this.
“Unisex leadership leads to degeneration,” said Ms. Svetlana Posvyashonnaya, leader of the NGO “City of Light.” “Nowadays, women are not conscious of their value,” said the chair of the Women’s Initiative and Creative Association of the Novosibirsk region, Ms. Nadezhda Latrygina. “The task of raising children should be shared equally by both parents. Men who are involved in raising their children will understand women better and consequently create laws in support of families. We must elevate the value of parents’ educational efforts, and then they would never reject their children."
The general public is poorly informed about the norms of family ethics. Ms. Nadejda Latrygina said that the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 years is equal to the cost of a one-room flat. Women in countryside have it especially hard. The state is making efforts to support elderly people and young children, but this is not the state’s true prerogative, because this function fundamentally is that of families. In order not to destroy the connection between children and parents, we should pay more attention to the challenges that families face.”
Ms. Margarita Vladovskaya, head of the Spiritual Development Center, reminded the audience about the importance of the spiritual dimension in addressing problems. “The world will be a better place when we change ourselves,” she said. “A woman in a humble position has a difficult time raising worthy children, because her external position reflects her internal state. It's an issue of human dignity. Individual crises lead to global crises."
Ms. Galina Semeshko, chair of the Veteran Teachers' Club in Novosibirsk, called upon participants to convene large-scale forums to discuss urgent issues, involving as many as people as possible and inspiring them to get involved in solving human development problems. The point is, most people take for granted the support of the government, she added.
In relation to the International Day of Families in May, participants planned a series of joint programs in support of family values with the conviction that women’s rights will be upheld when love reigns in all families!