The event was organised with support from the Council of the Eurasian Women’s Forum.
The 2nd Assembly of the World Federation of Russian-Speaking Women, organised with support from the Council of the Eurasian Women’ Forum (EAWF), the Federation Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, is taking place at the House of Unions in Moscow. The conference involves women from more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia.
Galina Karelova, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs and Chair of the Council of the Eurasian Women’s Forum under the Federation Council, greeted the guests and participants of the assembly.
“The World Federation of Russian-Speaking Women, established in 2022 through the support of Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko as part of Russian Compatriots Abroad, a project of the Eurasian Women’s Forum, has a noble and demanding mission. In a difficult international situation, when Russophobia runs rampant across countries, this association is making a valuable contribution to strengthening trust and mutual understanding between people in different states, deepening international humanitarian, business and cultural cooperation,” the senator said.
Galina Karelova informed the participants about the EAWF Council’s international projects, encouraging them to participate in them more actively. “The council’s portfolio includes 27 international projects in different areas. They give women the opportunity to protect their interests and better reveal their potential. Here in this room, we have heads of cultural centres, professors from leading foreign universities, business executives and scholars. You can make a tangible contribution to the EAWF Council’s projects, which will benefit our common cause,” she emphasised.
The meeting was moderated by Yelena Afanaseva, Member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and President of the World Federation of Russian-Speaking Women.
“The World Federation of Russian-Speaking Women has recently completed the registration procedures. The organisation has registered its charter and has established cooperation with the Russian Foreign Ministry. We want to reach as many Russian-speaking women as possible, regardless of their citizenship, occupation or age,” Yelena Afanaseva noted.
The senator said that the 2nd assembly is taking place amid preparations for the 4th Eurasian Women’s Forum. “The wide scope of countries represented indicates the high interest in our agenda. We hope that it will receive great support from the women’s community at the upcoming forum,” she added.
The discussion focused on issues related to the activities of the World Federation of Russian-Speaking Women, opportunities for expanding cultural and social ties, promoting the Russian language, and drawing the attention of human rights groups to cases of violations of the legal rights of Russian-speaking women and children. A joint action plan for 2024 was outlined.
The Female Compatriot of the Year award was established at the EAWF Council’s initiative.
The event featured a presentation of the book Famous Women of Russia, published at Yelena Afanaseva’s initiative.
It also included a promotion for women’s cosmetic products made in Russia.
Also attending the assembly were Russian Senators Rimma Galushina and Lyudmila Talabayeva, State Duma deputies Yaroslav Nilov and Leonid Slutsky, and representatives of Russian government agencies and public organisations.