State Committee of National Policy of the Republic of Karelia
Karelian-Finnish Women's Forum
Historical Information
First Karelian-Finland Women's Forum was held in March 1996 in Petrozavodsk within the frames of the Year of Finland in the Republic of Karelia. During the Forum, the intention of both parties became evident: they were enthusiastic about developing connections, exchanging experience and supporting women's movement both on the government and of public organizations basis.
II Karelian-Finland Women's Forum was held in Oulu (Finland) in 1998. The issues of women's health, social protection, gender researches, and women's entrepreneurship were discussed. Main presentations were made by the Ministry of Labor of Finland Liisa Jakonsaari, Chairman of the House of the Republic of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia Natalya Kotsuba, and the spouse of the President of Finland Eva Ahtisaari was the trustee of the Forum.
The official representatives of the Republic of Karelia Natalya Kotsuba and Tatyana Lebedeva suggested that III Karelian-Finland Women's Forum should be held in Petrozavodsk in 2001.
Initiators and Organizers
The initiators of the Forum were long-term partners - the Karelian Republican Society of Friendship with Finland and the society "Finland-Russia." The agreement on freindship and collaboration between the two societies was made in 1992, which is being regularly replenished with the events to be held.
The women's movement in the Republic of Karelia has been strengthened for three years. It was backed by the legislative and executive branches of power in the republic. The Commission on women's issues attached to the Government of the Republic of Karelia, led by the Head of the Government Sergey Katanandov, was established. The programs "Women of the Republic of Karelia" and "Healthy Style of Life" were adopted. The Republican Women's Forum "For Decent Life" in Sortavala, the Republican Workshop "Healthy Style of Life" in Kostomuksha, the Republican Mothers' Day in Segezha, the meeting of rural women in Petrozavodsk were held.
The Republican Association of Women's Public Organizations had been established, headed by the Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on North and Far East Affairs Valentina Pivnenko.
III Karelian Finland Women's Forum
III Karelian Finland Women's Forum will be held in Petrozavodsk in October 28-29. The delegations of all the territories of local power bodies will participate in it. Representatives of the Karelian Republican Society of Friendship with Finland, national public organizations and women's movement of the Republic of Karelia are invited. The number of people included in a delegation is 2-3. Travel costs have to be paid at the expense of the territory.
The city of Petrozavodsk will be presented by women's social organizations. The members of the commission of improving women's situation in the Republic of Karelia, the board of the Karelian Republican Society of Friendship with Finland, representatives of legislative and executive power branches of the Republic of Karelia and the city of Petrozavodsk.
The guests from the republic, national districts, and oblasts of the Russian Federation, where Finno-Ugrian people live, and also representatives of Hungary and Estonia will participate in the Forum for the first time.
A special organizing committee was set up by the decision of the Head of the Government of the Republic of Karelia Sergey Katanandov.
The name of the Forum is "World Viewed by a Woman." Four sections are expected to be working at the forum, including the following themes:
- Social sphere and health care: the situation in the Republic of Karelia and in Finland. Children's and motherhood protection, social work with aged people.
- Equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men. The Law of Equal Rights in Finland. Russia's perspectives in this sphere. Joint Karelian-Finnish project on the issues of equal rights. The situation of a woman at home and at work.
- Women's entrepreneurship in Finland and in the Republic of Karelia.
- Women in social movements and social organization in Finland and the Republic of Karelia.
Both parties are to present one main report and three greetings (5 minutes) at the plenary session.
III Karelian- Finland Forum is supposed to strengthen connections and relationships between women's social organizations. The participants of the Forum will get familiar with new experience in the sphere of public health, social sphere, entrepreneurship. In the sphere of human rights the efforts will be focused to develop law regulations on equal rights and opportunities for men and women.
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