We Invite You to Take Part in the Joint Action

During the session of women's organizations, which took place in the first national conference of non-commercial organizations in Russia, the head of the Tula Regional Centre for Women and Family Support "Podruga" (female-friend) Tamara Lopatina put forward a proposal, which, we hope, will be supported by many of our women-readers. We give her the floor.

From 25 November to 10 December the "Sixteen Days of Women's Actions Against Violence" action is held all over the world. These days are devoted to women's struggle for the right to live without humiliation, insult, rape. I'd like to cite the "White Ribbon", which was held by women of an English town. For along time they had been applying for the authorities demanding to pay more attention to violence in the family. However, the authorities thought that violence in the family was a rare thing and that is why it was not worth taking any special actions. Then the initiators of the action suggested that every woman passing the central avenue of the town should fasten a white ribbon to a tree. Of course, only if she had experienced any violence in the family. The next morning the whole avenue was white with ribbons, symbolizing women's tears. That was the way the women forced the authorities to pay their attention to the problem of violence in the family and take measures.

Of course, some women's organizations in Russia hold their actions nowadays but they are isolated, I would say even special. These are mainly seminars, round tables, conferences. However, these forms are not enough to make the problem of violence in the family and society evident for everybody. It is necessary to hold actions which are as striking as the action I mentioned above.

In May-June 2001 in Tula they are going to hold an inter-regional conference "Let's Stop Violence Against Women and Children". One of the tasks of the conference is to work out a strategic cooperation between women's NKOs concerning violence prevention and preparation for the international action against violence. If you have any proposals concerning the organization of actions against violence in your town or city or you have already had an experience in this area, which can be used for working out the cooperation strategy, we ask you to contact us.

Tamara Lopatina, the Tula Regional Centre for Women and Family Support "Podruga" tel/fax: (0872) 271511; address: 300041, Tula, Dm. Ulyanova str. 5