Problems of Women's Organizations Remain Unattended by Belarusian Society

26.10.2005.

25 October – the International Day of Women's Struggle for Peace. It has been marked since in 1980 the International Democratic Federation of Women took an corresponding decision.
The democratic women's organizations of the country maintain friendly links with the international women's movement, first of all through the UN Development Program in Belarus. Maria Alieva, a member of this project, says that in the recent years the contacts tend to grow weaker because in Belarus even women's organizations are legally discriminated: "There were offices in 32 cities, legal addresses registered with apartments. That's no longer so. We had to liquidate the structure departments".
Iryna Kulei, the wife of Aliaxandr Milinkievich nominated as the single presidential candidate of the democratic forces, commented the declared care of the head of state about the enhanced role of women through increased women's participation in governmental structures and the parliament: "I believe that this is just window-dressing. In fact, the issues that trouble society now and women do not depend on the women in executive committees or the parliament. Because in this country one person rules. Locally, there are few people who can express their opinion so that it is heard".
Iryna Kulei believes that the problems of women, their prospects, the future of children in Belarus do receive enough attention.