Nadezhda A. Bikalova
Parliamentary Deputy to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Committee on Economic Policy
Moscow, 103009, Okhotny Ryad 2/4
RUSSIA
TEL: (095) 925-94-26
It is impossible to imagine the development of the civilized stateswithout women nowadays. Troubles which are characteristicfor many states today, i.e. ethnic conflicts and ecological catastrophes,are the result of too few women in politics. I believe that it is impossible to overcome the disunity and separatism of all political sources ofmodern society and all walks of life and to promote cultural, mental, intellectual, scientific and moral progress without women's activities now.
Scientists have proved the spiritual equality of 'men' and 'women'. There was and is always a queen nearthe king in the prosperous societies and there is always the Goddessnear the God on the Heavens.
Women are mentally and morally very advanced; emotionally and psychologically women are refined and their hearts are full of wisdom. Thewomen are taking the main part of the heavy burden which is too difficult during the days of disasters in every society. The voice of womenis very strong when they are calling to unite during such days.
Women are giving the Birth to the peoples of their countries, that's why they have the real right to influence the fates of their peoples. The Power of Woman is not in imitation of the men's behavior andnature, character but to act individually according to her senses andnatural feelings with the purpose of perfection and self-sacrifice, patience and courage.
More than a half of the population in Russia are women, butonly 5% of the members of the Russian supreme executive and parliamentary branches of government are women. Scientists have proved already that the more socially oriented policy exists only in those states where 30 or 40% of women are taking part in the work of Government, Parliament and are included in thePolitical elite and Establishment, as women are taking care of aboutall undefended socially groups of society, i.e children, old people, in-valids, students etc.
There is a very dangerous situation in Russia now, because the death of children has been growing very quickly and the rate of birth ofchildren is declining too quickly. The birth rate declined by 25%in 1992-1993, i.e. there are only 9,2 persons born in every 1000 inhabi-tants, as the rate of death was growing by 28% i.e. 14,6 persons amongevery 1000 inhabitants. Besides, the death rate of people in working age is growing more quickly than the average rate. One hundred and twenty men died among 1000 workers in 1993; among womenthis figure was 28, the corresponding figures show the growth since1991:42 and 8 persons more than in 1991. The index of death among newborn children was 19 in 1993 and 17,8 in 1991 among every 1000 newborn Russian children.
There are many unsolved problems in society in which women aresuffering from oppression. Yet everywhere women are taking care of the illand those who need their help, especially mothers in case of children'sprostitution and alcoholism, mentally debilitated children etc. Womenare aware of low culture of relation in families and ecological unstability's problems in modern society and they try to do their best in orderto overcome these problems.
I think it is absolutely wrong to divide people in politics andpoliticians on sexual line and border. When a person is becoming a statesman or public figure then this politician should be appreciated asa personality and intellectual but not as a man or a woman. Any politician and the leader of any state should have high moral qualities' characteristics, i.e. honesty, decency, political and practical wisdom, courage and the desire to do the utmost for the sake of the people oftheir countries.
The members of the Russian Parliament are 15,5% women who are therepresentatives of all the Parties and Parliamentary Groups in Gosduma. There is a rise in number of Women in Russia and Chuvashia who aretaking part in political and election campaigns. I think these women'spolitical activities are closely connected with the deep economic crises in Russia now. There is a strong social division of the Russian society between rich and poor: their salaries differ 11 times in1993;correspondingly 7-8 times in 1992 and 4 times in 1991.
The adoption of the constitution in December 1993 had broken themechanism of social support of simple people in Russia, which operatedfor dozens of years at the times of highly centralized,non-market and planned economics. The Soviet citizens had strongguarantees from the state on their rights of labor/jobs/,education, free medical care/health service/ etc. for more than 70 years. Nowthey have lost all their rights which are only declared but not guaranteed by the state. The loss of the guarantees of the rights was painfully adopted by the population of our country.
That's why the main topic of the women's election campaign in Russia in1993, now, and in the future was, is and will be the social and ecologicalproblems, defending the rights of children and women and the prioritiesof the Family. So women in the Russian Parliament are working hard inorder to adopt laws on the growth of pensioners' incomes andstudents' scholarships. They insist on the urgent need in special funds andbenefits for federal programmes"Children of Russia","Children of Cher-nobyl" "Children - Invalids" etc. which should to be adopted.
I think the women's movement in our country has many problems: it should be more efficient and active and the Russian Association of University Womenshould help to do the utmost to help to achievethese aims. Not all the women who come in Politics now are sincere andaware of the problems which are troubling the simple people muchnowadays; a few of them are engaged only in their personal politicalcareers and their political ambitions and have no desire to help their electorate anyhow, though the poor people need the help from theirmembers of the Parliament.
The Future belongs to the unity of all organizations of the women'smovement in their struggle for their rights and socially orientedpolicy for all the people and to defend and save our Planet "theEarth". It is possible to elect a Government and the Parliament anuncountable number of times and there will be no changes as all thestates have the apparatus of oppression as the Symbol of Power. That'swhy it is very important to make the Government to work for the sakeof people and their interests.
Concluding my speech, I welcome all the representatives of many countries of the world, whose hearts shouldn't allow the destructionthe Earth. All women all over the world are struggling For Peace andEcology of the Earth, for beauty and Morality. I want to remind You thewords of Thoreau:
There is no use of the house if and when there is noplace and no planet where it would be built.
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