"Strength in unity": the Women's Movement Forum was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On 14 October, the Third All-Russian Forum of the "United Russia Women's Movement" titled "Women Who Create the Future" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event brought together more than 700 attendees from 89 regions of the country: representatives of government and public organizations, politicians, and experts.

Speaking at the Forum, Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, the Moscow City Duma’s representative at the Federation Council, coordinator of the "Care for Everyone in Need" project under the United Russia Party's People's Programme, Chairman of the Public Council of the "United Russia Women's Movement" party project, highlighted the key role of women in the social and legislative development of Russia. She stressed that women's active citizenship finds significant support at the state level, and the "United Russia Women's Movement" has become an important tool for sharing experiences, mutual support and the implementation of significant initiatives.

"Today's Forum is a confirmation that women in Russia strive not only to achieve personal success, but also to contribute to the betterment of society. This involvement became possible thanks to the systematic support from the State, in particular, through the implementation of the National Strategy of Action for Women until 2030. The Party's support allows women to perform projects aimed at caring for those in need, preserving historical memory, popularizing traditional family values, carry out educational programmes for young people, and much more. The women ‘s participation in legislative activities makes it possible to promote initiatives in the field of social policy, volunteerism and women's entrepreneurship. A striking example of such work is the "Voice of a Woman" project," said the Chairman of the Public Council of the "United Russia Women's Movement" party project.

She added that more than 30 life situations described in the activists' stories formed the basis of bills that are being considered in the State Duma or have already become laws.

"It is possible to implement public and social, humanitarian, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives thanks to the support that the "United Russia Women's Movement" received from Party Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Secretary of the General Council of the Party Vladimir Yakushev, as well as heads of regional political councils and governors," Inna Svyatenko emphasized.

According to her, the support at the state level allows women to implement projects aimed at caring for those in need, preserving historical memory, popularizing traditional family values, carrying out educational programmes for young people, and much more.

Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for the Development of Local Self-Government, stressed the key role of women in the development of municipalities, and expressed confidence in Russia's victory. According to her, modern women are changing the country for the better through love, care, and dedication to their work.

"63% of rural areas are represented by women, and each of them in her place carries the mission of protection and love for the Motherland through love and dedication to the common goal. We have never done anything wrong to anyone in our lives, we have never declared war on anyone. We didn't take anything from anyone else, and we just won't give up our own. And we kneel only for prayer. Our homeland is the best, our warriors are the strongest, and our women are the most beautiful. Because, however the European women's looks are good, our work is great," said Irina Guseva.

The "United Russia Women's Movement" plays an important role in the implementation of significant projects in all regions of the country, said Maria Kostyuk, Governor of the Jewish Autonomous Region.

"There is not a single region where any of the projects that have been discussed here today would not find a response. It is women's strength, sensitivity and dedication to a common goal that create the indissoluble bond between people, between initiative and real results. We don't just talk, we act, and this is our common confidence and our pride," said Maria Kostyuk.

Irina Gekht, Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area, said that in three years, the "United Russia Women's Movement" has evolved from a volunteer initiative into a major political force. According to her, a modern woman is a strategic resource for both the country and the party, whilst successfully combining family, career and social activities.

"Over this period of time, the Women's Movement has introduced mentoring in political life, created a political school, introduced support for entrepreneurship, and started to come up with legislative initiatives. For a woman in politics, a person is important, as well as their living conditions, education, and healthcare. These are the areas that have strategic prospects. And if earlier we talked about how to combine family and professional responsibilities, today we are talking about a trilogy: about a family, a job and, necessarily, a social activity. And I am more than sure that a woman today is a strategic resource for the country and the party," Irina Gekht noted.

Irina Viner, Chairman of the Commission on Physical Training and Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle at the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, emphasized the importance of fostering patriotism through personal example in families, as well as the key role of women mothers in shaping the country's future.

"Children are our future, and we need to upbring them from the very beginning, not by talking about the motherland, but by personal example. Our mentoring should be real, and manifest itself in such a way that children see the example of their family. Raising a good, decent person is no less important than training an Olympic champion, and even more challenging and relevant. And we women are the most important persons regarding the upbringing of our children, and we must always stand guard over our country. After all, during the Great Patriotic War, women helped to win, and now they are also helping to win," concluded Irina Viner.

Natalia Popova, First Deputy Director General of the Innopraktika Non-Governmental Development Institute and presenter of the "Let's Live!" TV show on Channel One, said that the sanctions' pressure had brought Russian society together and revealed its ability to make technological breakthroughs in a mobilizing economy. She assigned a special role in this process to the "soft power" of women who support fighters who have returned from a special military operation.

"Our enemies made a mistake, deciding that they would shake Russia with sanctions. It worked the other way around: we've rallied, stood up, and now we have been really inspired by this, and we're making scientific and technological breakthroughs. It is so because it is written in our code that we unite in difficulties and carry the strength of our people. But any technology is just a tool, like a hammer, that will not build a house by itself. The main thing is the people and their motivation. And women are such a soft power that works wonders. And when our guys come back from a special military operation, completely lost, with serious injuries, only women telling them that the country will need them in any condition, will bring them back to life much faster. And it is precisely such motivated specialists who love their Homeland and will never betray it," Natalia Popova is convinced.

The "United Russia Women's Movement"' Forum titled "Women Who Create the Future" is dedicated to topical issues of consolidating the women's community, women's participation in the fulfillment of the national agenda and national goals, and women's role in solving the tasks of state and society development. The "United Russia Women's Movement" is the most widespread among all women's organizations in the country. It consists of more than a million women involved in the implementation of public, social, humanitarian, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives.