Kamenetskaya Natalia Yurievna
Executive Director of the Creative Laboratory "INO", art critic, artist

"I think that now we should count on increasing of the cultural level. Women should realize their abilities and potential."

"Women should realize that nobody would advocate and support their rights except themselves."

"Participation of women's organizations in the work of State and political structures can increase both the image of the public organizations and status of women in general and bring in their creative potential."

All the projects of my organizations are aimed at creation of a positive woman's image, at definition of status and role of women in culture. We support women's creative innovations, carry out goal-oriented creative projects as well as conferences, exhibitions where we discuss and present strong sides of the woman's creative development. For example, now we develop Website "Museum of the Modern Woman's Art". We expect that it will give possibility for women from different places on earth to exchange their opinions and also it will open wide prospects for gifted artists who live in far provinces. I think that activities of this kind could contribute to changing of the present stereotypes: we will respect women more from the creative point of view and hence the women's status in the society will improve. Not only economy either culture is the basis definition for developing of the country. I participate in numerous various events that are illuminating women's creative works, their contribution to art and culture, but unfortunately, the mass media do not pay sufficient attention to these events. We should educate women, as well as raise women's ratings and fight against negative stereotypes in the public opinion. I think that now we should count on increasing of the cultural level. Women should realize their abilities and potential.

Undoubtedly, the presence of women on the "highest levels" is not enough at the present time: we should do our best to promote women to become leaders. Now only few women on the leading positions advocate and support women's rights. I have the feeling that the women's style in politics is not invented yet and therefore they act in a single existing now men's style. Women should realize that nobody would advocate and support their rights except themselves. Certainly, they talk very much now in the women's public circles that only introduction of the quotation system can help to change the present situation. However, the quotation system can cause the danger that women would be involved into party activities just to "tick off". I think, if we make the certain barrier 50% to 50% or let us take for example "not less than 30% of one sex" - in this case, it will have sense. The other wording will testify that women are less capable to be in politics. Would the state pursue a fair and competent gender policy, the huge invisible work of women would become visible. It will help to increase respect for women and realizing of their value in the society. If we will have competent gender policy, we will not need quotation system and we will choose the best women.

I know from my experience that partnership between quite different types of organizations is possible and profitable for both sides. For example, commercial structures grant financial support to the public organizations and therefore increase their status. Participation of women's organizations in the work of State and political structures can increase both the image of the public organizations and status of women in general and bring in their creative potential.

I took part in two events in the frames of the initiative "Vital Voices. Women in Democracy": Conference in Reykjavik and training in Washington. Both events seemed to me to be very useful: such events collect women from different fields of activities and give them possibility to discuss current problems on a rather high level, to generate and plan joint projects. Would all the countries support this international initiative with the same enthusiasm like they did before, it would be wonderful, because there are not very much initiatives on creation of partnerships between women right now.