EDITORIAL
Dear readers, This edition of "Woman Plus..." is the last that we'll print under the grant provided by the "Frauen-Anstiftung" German feminists' foundation. This doesn't mean, though, that we're about to say good-bye. We realize that there's a real need for our magazine, and we will find the means to continue its publication. If you can help support "Woman Plus..." with either funds or information, we would be extremely grateful. In this "final" edition, we'd like to thank all those who made it possible to publish "Woman Plus..."; above all, the women from the European branch of "Frauen-Anstiftung".
It was thanks to their efforts that the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation provided the funds we needed to launch this magazine. Steffi Engert, President of the Women's East-West Innovation Foundation and our liaison with "Frauen-Anstiftung", provided invaluable help in developing the concept of the magazine, and in its execution.
We'd like to thank the CIS-USA Women's Consortium, and the US Agency for International Development, for the funds with which we were able to renovate our facilities for the magazine's publication. Many thanks personally to Martina Vandenberg for her help in distributing the magazine. We are extraordinarily grateful to all our readers who helped with distribution in their regions around the country.
We would also like to thank Elena Topoleva and the Agency for Social Information for their continuing cooperation in supplying us with data. Thanks to all our writers and translators; to everyone who offered their opinions and experience; and to all who contributed their time free of charge, from our technical consultants to our proof readers. Special thanks to Valery Ushakov and Vladimir Gudilin for their help in organizing the printing work.
And of course, our thanks to you, the readers. You are the main reason that this magazine even exists.
You'll find a great many controversial opinions in this issue. Don't let them bother you, even if they're far removed from your own. You're welcome to join in the discussion, and tell us what you think. You might even try to incorporate some new ideas into your own world view--your horizons can only become wider.
We take another look at the conflict in Chechnya, perhaps the worst problem facing Russia today. Which is the best way of ending the war? What can the rise in ethnophobia lead to? The writer and scholar Aleksandr Iskandaryan shares his views on these subjects.
While politicians ponder how best to end the Chechen crisis, private organizations have already made plain their positions, and have begun the first Russia-wide campaign to demand the immediate withdrawal of Federal troops from Chechnya. At present, signatures are being collected in support of the non-profit organizations' petition for an end to the war. The petition is to be forwarded to the President and government. If this proves ineffective, third sector organizations are prepared to resort to other methods of protest.
Likewise, the Petersburg Centre for Gender Problems is calling for your signatures in support of Galina Starovoitova's candidacy for the post of President of the Russian Federation. We would like to think that such a large number of signature-collecting campaigns is a sign of the revival of civil society in Russia.
But even this signature campaign is not the last you'll hear of. One watch-dog group from Croatia is circulating a petition for the preservation of Croatian women's rights to safe, legal abortion and access to contraceptives. One might find it hard to believe that, in the final years of the twentieth century, anyone could dispute a woman's inalienable right to decide for herself whether or not she'll become a mother. Sadly, however, this is true. The attack on women's rights in Croatia is not only coming from right-wing extremist groups and the Catholic Church, but also from the "Programme for Demographic Development", with the approval of the Croatian government. What is the situation with abortions in Russia? What's being said on the subject? We talk about this in our article "Abortion: For and Against: Beating Around the Bush".
What is it that strips the women we see in the higher echelons of government of their individuality? Psychoanalyst Karina Giulazizova tackles this question in "Women in Power". Her reply: the denial of their natural womanhood. "In no way can they choose between the expected image of teacher, doctor, Pioneer leader, director or whatever, and their own natural womanhood." Marina Liborakina, Elena Kochkina, and the President of the Geia International Women's Centre, Elena Ershova--all activists well-known to "Woman Plus..." readers--discuss the need for gender expertise in the legislation undertaken by the State Duma.
There recently has been an unprecedented growth in the propaganda activities of various religious groups. In our talk with one "Jehova's Witness", you'll learn just what place women are assigned in this sect.
And as always, we will tell you about a number of women's organizations and grass-roots movements.
We hope to see you again soon! Best regards, The Editors
BACK TO THE CONTENT
BACK HOME