The Consortium is a coalition of 160 women’s organizations from 52 regions of Russia. The Consortium is a part of the International Network of the NIS-US Women’s Consortium, established in 1993.
THE MAIN GOALS OF THE CONSORTIUM ARE TO:
Implement the constitutional principle of equal rights, freedoms, and equal opportunities for women and men;
Increase the role of women’s non-governmental organizations in building civil society;
Promote highly qualified women experts to the level of decision-making.
THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE CONSORTIUM
Promote and advocate interests of women;
Cooperate with authorities in order to improve legislation in the interests of women with the purpose of:
providing equal opportunities
preventing domestic violence
protecting the reproductive health of the Russian population
supporting women’s entrepreneurial initiative
stopping women trafficking
Establish the system of public monitoring to control observance of the Russian and international legislation;
Educate and train women’s organizations in developing leadership skills, promoting and advocating women’s interests, and creating coalitions.
WOMEN’S INTERESTS PROMOTION AND ADVOCACY
Is aimed at creating favorable social environment for women, adopting laws ensuring equal rights, and at implementing non-discriminational policy by executive authorities. This type of activity is implemented by active participation of the Consortium members in promotion of the equal opportunity legislation in the parliament hearings on issues of domestic violence, reproductive rights, demographic situation, labor rights, and taxation.
In close cooperation with the Consortium, the State Duma Committee on Women, Family and Youth Issues prepared a Concept paper on legislation aimed at ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities for men and women. The Concept paper was approved by the State Duma in October, 1997.
ESTABLISHING THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC MONITORING to control the observance of the Russian and international legislation, and to monitor activity of all branches of power is one of the major objectives of women’s NGOs, and that of the Consortium as well. The Consortium initiated gender analysis of the electoral campaign to the State Duma and its composition in 1999, as well as the presidential elections of 2000.
The Consortium developed the SYSTEM OF EDUCATING AND TRAINING WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS in developing leadership skills, promoting and advocating women’s interests, and creating coalitions. The Consortium holds regular conferences, seminars, and trainings.
Among the newest SOCIAL TECHNOLOGIES of the Consortium, the following should be mentioned:
Discussions on joint strategies of participation in parliament hearings together with other women’s organizations;
Preliminary surveys of its members on issues posed by the Consortium in its open memorandums to the President and to the federal authorities.
Involvement of member organizations in such joint projects increases their self-awareness and teaches them in practice how to cooperate with state authorities and promote interests of women.
COOPERATION WITH MASS MEDIA
The Consortium holds regular press conferences and also sends its speakers to the Russian training center ‘Praktika’, where staff of regional and local TV stations are trained.
ACTIVITIES IN THE SPHERE OF INFORMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
The Consortium’s Internet site contains information on the coalition, member organizations, official documents and laws that are important for women, and about major events in the women’s movement.
35 member organizations underwent special training, and received modems and access to the Internet in 1998.
The Consortium initiated publishing of a series of books, documents and training manuals.
The Consortium and its members actively participate in international, national and regional conferences.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CONSORTIUM
ANY WOMEN’S NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION (from the Russian Federation) CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CONSORTIUM,
IF IT SHARES THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:
Equal rights, freedoms, and equal opportunities for women and men;
Equal respect for women’s organizations involved in different activities;
Absolute equality and independence for all member organizations of the Consortium;
Willingness to cooperate with other women’s organizations.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE CONSORTIUM IS FREE
To apply for membership in the Consortium, please forward your letter of request along with copies of your charter and registration documents, and letters of recommendation from two Consortium members, to wcons@wcons.org.ru
STOLOVY PER. 6, BLD.2, OFFICE 215,
MOSCOW, RUSSIA 121069
TEL. (7-495) 290-47-08
FAX (7-495) 203-08-07
E-MAIL: WCONS@WCONS.ORG.RU
HTTP: //WWW.WCONS.ORG.RU
|
