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#1-2 2009 г.

SUMMARY

The current issue of the journal “Women’s Rights are Human Rights: Legislation and Practice” opens with the editorial note which presents a brief review of the contents. The editorial staff has drawn the readers’ attention to the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as the main feature of the issue.

The first article is the review of the roundtable discussion dedicated to the 30th CEDAW Anniversary held by the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on June 5, 2009. The review has been prepared by P. Markov, M. Smolyanov and A. Kirishchyan, postgraduates of the Department of Theory and Sociology of Law, Institute of State and Law. The main subject of the discussion was law, gender and culture in the age of globalization. Prominent academicians, representatives of the state bodies and human rights activists participated in this significant event. The opening speech was delivered by Dr. A. G. Lysitsin - Svetlanov, Director of the Institute, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Lysitsin - Svetlanov made an emphasis on the need of the development and adoption of national laws which would take into account gender issues and the relevant international legislation. Then the floor was given to Dr. S.V. Polenina, Head of Department of Theory and Sociology of Law, Institute of State and Law. Dr. Polenina made a point of the CEDAW being the first international treaty in history which regulates collective rights of citizens. According to the speaker, the definition of discrimination given in the Convention is widely used by analysts in various countries in the world. Ms. G.M. Mikhaleva, Chairperson of the Gender Faction of the Yabloko Party, presented the outcomes of her analysis of mechanisms of the implementation of the CEDAW and shared the information about the conferences on gender issues held in the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Ms. N.V. Dmitriyeva, co-chairperson of the Council of Consolidation of Women’s Movement of Russia, focused attention of the audience on the legal aspect of the problem under consideration. Inter alia, the speaker informed the participants on the draft law on the state guarantees of equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men restarted by the State Duma (Parliament). The speakers who also significantly contributed to the work of the round-table discussion were Dr. K.D. Krylov, International

University of Nature, Society and Humanity; Ms. N.N. Chuchelina, analyst of the Foundation of Legal Aspects of Federalism and Local Self-Government; E. Bashun, a representative of the Women’s Union of Russia; E. V. Skurko, Ph.D., expert of the Institute of State and Law; Ms. V.V. Ivanova, a representative of the Moscow Union of Lawyers.

The next part of the journal issue includes the announcements, such as the information about the recently released book “Law, Gender and Culture in the Age of Globalization” by Dr. S. V. Polenina and E.V. Skurko. Other announcements highlight the forthcoming conferences. For example, the 16th International Conference “Women Who Change the World” will be held in St. Petersburg on November 12 - 21, 2009.

The fourth article of the current issue highlights recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings entitled “On the Improvement of the Law on Child Pornography, Prostitution and Other Forms of Violence: International Experience”. The Hearings were held in the State Duma (Parliament) of the Russian Federation on June 11, 2009. Deputies of the State Duma, members of the Council of Federation, representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other ministries took part in the Parliamentary Hearings. According to the international analysts, about 1.8 million children in the world are exposed to sexual exploitation. According to the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), annual turnover of the child pornography market being one of the most profitable sectors of shadow economy is equal to 2.2 billion euro. The situation in Russia in terms of sexual exploitation of children is also adverse. In 2008 the number of children who survived sexual abuse rapidly increased compared to the indicators of 2003 (5,281 vs. 769). Thus, currently in the Russian Federation issues of combating and preventing sexual exploitation of minors is one of the priorities within the framework of legislative and executive power as well as institutes of the civil society. In conclusion, the participants developed and adopted their recommendations for the State Duma (Parliament) of the Russian Federation, the Committee on Family, Women and Children of the State Duma, the National Government and the Public Chamber.

The next chapter of the journal reviews the acts adopted recently in Russia and in the world.

For example, on June 3, 2009, in Russia the Federal Law on ratification of the European Social Charter was signed by the President Dmitry Medvedev. The Presidential Decree (# 986) on the Child Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation was adopted on September 1, 2009. The editorial staff of the journal has considered this document to be very important. Therefore the complete version of the Decree has been published in the current issue. On August 4, 2009 the United Nations Security Council approved the Resolution on the protection of children in the armed conflicts.

The article by Dr. E.G. Lukovitskaya, Head of the Novgorod Gender Center, is dedicated to empowerment of women’s labour rights in Velikyi Novgorod. The author has presented the data of the thorough analysis of different aspects of gender discrimination in the city.

The article by Elena Askarova is also focused on women’s rights in the labour market. This is the issue of high priority under conditions of economic crisis because women are usually the first to be exposed to personnel reduction. The author has presented her recommendations on how to stand for one’s rights in the labour market.

The next part of the journal issue highlights the news of non-governmental organizations in Russia and the CIS countries. International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Pskov Women’s’ Center signed Memorandum of Understanding summarizing the results of the Conference on trafficking in human beings held in Moscow. The project on combating trafficking in human beings and violence has been launched by Kesher, International Women’s Organisation. According to the news resource of Azerbaijan, the journal “A Woman of Azerbaijan” was revived with the new design and contents.

The final article has been contributed by the veteran women’s organisation of Russia “Women and Conversion”. The author has reviewed the history of the organisation activities for the period from 1992 up to 2009.

The current issue of the journal “Women’s Rights are Human Rights: Legislation and Practice” has been designed and released with financial support from the Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy of Moscow and the Global Fund for Women.

The current issue of the journal has also highlighted the recent event dedicated to Raisa Gorbachev, the late wife of the first and the last President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. September 20, 2009 marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Raisa Gorbachev. On September 24,

2009, the Gorbachev Foundation held an international conference to honor the memory of Raisa Gorbachev, themed "Modern Challenges and Values: Women’s Dialog". The conference was organized by the Gorbachev Foundation as part of the activities of the Foundation’s ongoing project “Raisa Maximovna Club”. The problems of global security, poverty and backwardness, along with the unfolding environmental crisis have become major challenges of the 21st century. Endangering the very existence of humanity, they demand a new understanding and unorthodox solutions based on the recognition of such values as the right to a decent life, freedom, responsibility, and tolerance. Men and women are equally involved in the dialog on challenges and values. However, women have to overcome numerous obstacles to make their views heard and participate in the decision-making on the issues relevant to them and to the future of their children. The problem of active involvement of women in effecting the changes that open up new opportunities for society is directly linked to Raisa Gorbachev, her life and fate. She was deeply convinced that the views of women on the most pressing problems of today should be heard and reflected in the public opinion. Speakers at the conference included Mikhail Gorbachev and Irina Gorvbachev-Virganslaya, the Soviet President’s daughter and Vice-President of the Foundation he heads, renowned experts and public figures from Russia, the United States, Germany, and France.

The new book Raisa Gorbachev: Strokes to the Portrait, compiled and written under the general editorship of Irina Gorbachev-Virganskaya was officially presented at the conference in memory of Raisa Gorbachev on September 24, 2009. The book presents the recollections about the First Lady of the Soviet state as told by some of the well-known political and public figures, renowned journalists and writers, and generally the people who knew, valued and loved her. They give a full portrait of this amazing woman.

Additional materials giving an insight into the topics discussed at the conference include the article by Olga Zdravomyslova, social scientist and Executive Director of the Gorbachev Foundation, titled”Gender studies as the experience of public social science in Russia” and the article by Jens Siegert, Director of the Heinrich B?ll Foundation Moscow Office, “In Russia, women are the stronger sex”.

The video recording of the conference is available at www.a-z.ru

The Summary is prepared by Larisa Ponarina