Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Tue, 18 Mar 1997 16:59:30 -0800 (PST)
CCSI presents excerpts from the Agency for Social Information (ASI) e-mail
information bulletin. Translated from Russian by CCSI volunteer Tom
Sorenson, J.D., Ph.D., Edmonds, Washington, USA. For more information on
how to receive ASI's bulletin regularly, contact:
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AGENTSTVO SOTSIALNOI INFORMATSII
Kutuzovskyi pr. 22 pod. 14a,
Moscow, 121151
Tel./fax: (095) 249-3989
E-mail: [email protected]
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N 9 (118)
28 February - 6 March, 1997
In this issue:
I. The Signing of the Charter of Women's Solidarity Took Place
at the Parliamentary Center on March 4
II. The Russian Volunteers Association Calls for the Creation of
Conditions for Unifying The Forces of the Citzenry
III. The Russian Green Cross Plans to Participate in a Meeting
IV. The Charitable Foundation "Serafima" Renews Its Work in Nizhnii Novgorod
I
The Signing of the Charter of Women's Solidarity
Took Place at the Parliamentary Center of March 4
At the present time in Russia there are more than 400 officially
registered women's organizations of various size, each of which has its
own specific tasks and type of activity.
As can be seen from the name of the charter itself, it is intended to
overcome the lack of unity in the women's movement, to unite women's
organizations, and to create a mechanism for the exchange of information
on the organizations' activities, problems, events, and initiatives that
deserve general attention. It is also proposed to conduct common
activities and to provide moral, financial, and political support to
women's organizations. In the words of Ekaterina Lakhovaia, political
activity is not an end in itself. Nonetheless, all of the organizations
united under the charter will fight against the exploitative relationship
of the leading politicians to the women's political movement.
Thirty-nine organizations, ranging in size from national to regional,
signed the document. In addition to organizations from Moscow, women from
the Baikal region, the Uchotskii Atonomous Okrug, Primor'e, the Far East,
The Kolsk Peninsula, Yaroslavl', Sergeev Posad, and Novgorod joined the
charter.
Those who spoke at the ceremony believe that the signing testifies first
that the women's movement in Russia is gaining strength; second, to the
birth of new citizens initiatives; and third, to the desire for
cooperation between social organizations and the government.
Several State Duma deputies supported the signing. The director of the
Russian President's Commission on Improving the Position of Women Gennadii
Melikian appeared on behalf of the government. He said that attracting
women into the government is the only way to give politics a human face.
The charter is still open for signature. Women's organizations, women
politicians, social activists, and journalists may join.
II
The Russian Volunteers Association Calls for the Creation
of Conditions for Unifying The Forces of the Citzenry
The Russian Volunteers Association, which was created in December, 1996,
at the Second Russian Volunteers' Forum, unites the leaders and organizers
of the volunteer movement. Its goal is the development, advancement, and
support of the volunteer movement in Russia and the CIS.
The members of the Association, who are representatives of the third
sector from Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Chita, Tomsk, Novokuznetsk, Yaroslavl',
St. Petersburg, Tver, Moscow, Shchelkov, Obninsk, Kaluga, Tula, Nizhnii
Novgorod, Krasnodar, and Arkhangel'sk, met at the end of February at the
pension "Oka" outside Moscow. They discussed strategies for their
activities, the infrastructure of the national volunteer movement, and the
prospects for strengthening the ties between organizations and uniting
efforts for the defense of volunteer values in society and their official
recognition by the government. The meeting was organized by the Moscow
House of Charity Volunteer Center through a grant from USAID, the Eurasia
Foundation, and the program "Support for Social Initiatives."
Galina Bodrenkovaia, the President of the Russian Volunteers Association,
said that the movement is an instrument for social change and the cultural
and economic growth of society and is one of the most important
institutions for the development of democracy and a means through which
people can participate in the life of their countries. She said: "Today
the volunteer movement has developed in more than 100 countries and is a
global movement of social initiatives directed toward the improvement of
the life of communities....The presidents and governments of many
countries who are genuinely concerned about the prosperity and well being
of their communities not only officially support the volunteer movement
but give personal examples of voluntary work and their high civic duty.
Perhaps this real proof of the importance of the role of volunteer work
will lead US President Bill Clinton to announce his intention to
participate along with former presidents in a 3 day summit on civil
service, which, in his words, belongs neither to parties nor ideologies.
Telephone number: 291-1473; 291-2004
III
The Russian Green Cross Plans to Participate in a Meeting
At the end of 1995, with the active participation of the nongovernmental,
environmental organization the Green Cross, the Russian Ministry of
Ecology together with the Inter-Institutional Commission on Environmental
Education adopted the federal program "The Environmental Education of
the Russian Population to the Year 2000." The program involves directing
activities for all levels of the system of formal and informal
environmental education and study.
Each year the Russian Green Cross puts on an international conference on
the problems of the environmental education of the younger generation.
In 1997 the third international conference will take place in Vladimir
from June 23 to 28. It will be devoted to issues of the environmental
education in the higher schools. There will be a general exchange of
information among scholars, practical specialists, and representatives of
social organizations as well as a chance to learn the latest
accomplishments and scientific recommendations in this field.
Phone number: 927-8337 (Sergei Konstantinovich Voronov)
IV
The Charitable Foundation "Serafima"
Renews Its Work in Nizhnii Novgorod
After a long hiatus connected to financial difficulties, the charitable
foundation "Serafima" has again begun its work--a store for the poor. This
is one of the last places in Nizhnii Novgorod where people of meager
resources can obtain second hand items at a nominal cost or free. The
store accepts clothing, shoes, used toys, and other items and distributes
them to those in need.
The store's address is ul. B. Pecherskaia, d. 40-6.
Telephone number: (8312) 32-7174 (Larisa Konstantinova Tseitsan)
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