The Gorbachev Foundation hosts a conference to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Raisa Gorbachev

On September 24, 2009, the Gorbachev Foundation held an international conference to honor the memory of Raisa Gorbachev, themed "Modern Challenges and Values: Women's Dialog". September 20, 2009 marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Raisa Gorbachev. The conference in memory of the late wife of President Mikhail Gorbachev was organized by the Gorbachev Foundation as part of the activities of the Foundation’s ongoing project “Raisa Maximovna Club”.

The problems of global security, poverty and backwardness, along with the unfolding environmental crisis have become major challenges of the 21^st century. Endangering the very existence of humanity, they demand a new understanding and unorthodox solutions based on the recognition of such values as the right to a decent life, freedom, responsibility, and tolerance. Men and women are equally involved in the dialog on challenges and values. However, women have to overcome numerous obstacles to make their views heard and participate in the decision-making on the issues relevant to them and to the future of their children.

The problem of active involvement of women in effecting the changes that open up new opportunities for society is directly linked to Raisa Gorbachev, her life and fate. She was deeply convinced that the views of women on the most pressing problems of today should be heard and reflected in the public opinion.

Speakers at the conference included Mikhail Gorbachev and Irina Gorbachev-Virganskaya, the Soviet President’s daughter and Vice-President of the Foundation he heads, renowned experts and public figures from Russia, the United States, Germany, and France.

The video recording of the conference is available at www.a-z.ru

Additional materials giving an insight into the topics discussed at the conference include the article by Olga Zdravomyslova, social scientist and Executive Director of the Gorbachev Foundation, titled “Gender studies as the experience of public social science in Russia” and the article by Jens Siegert, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Moscow Office, “In Russia, women are the stronger sex”.