WOMEN AND DEMOCRACY

6 October, 2005
17:30 Opening of the Conference in the White Column Hall in Smolny

Greetings: 

On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation (or Representative Office of the President in the North-West Federal District) from:
- the Government of the Russian Federation, the Duma and   the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation, the Government of St. Petersburg and governor V.I.Matvienko, 
- the Nordic Council of Ministers
- the Countries – Island, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia –  where earlier conferences were held

19:30 Reception in Smolny Cathedral (on behalf of the government of St. Petersburg)

7 October, 2005

Place: Hotel “Pribaltiyskaya”

10:00 – 13:30 Panel discussion “Women and Power”
13:30 – 15:00 Dinner
15:00 – 18:00 Workshops
19:00 Ballet for all participants (Mariinsky Theatre or Musorgsky  Theatre)

8 October 2005

Place: Hotel “Pribaltiyskaya”

10:00 – 11:30 Panel discussion “Women and Economy and Women and Labour Market”
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee-break
12:00 – 13:30 Panel discussion “Alternative to Violence”
13:00 – 15:00 Lunch
15:00 – 18:00 Drawing conclusions with regard to the Workshops
19:00 Reception on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers 

Main principles of organizing the panel discussions:

The responsible countries provide: 1-2 very good key-note speakers (10 minute speech); 4-5 panelist (5-7 minutes), 2 moderators (man and woman, English speaking and Russian speaking)

Here are presented the draft titles of the panel discussions. The titles are to be made more expressive and comprehensive) 

1. Norway – “Women and Power” (Norway)
- Key notes speaker (Norway)
- Key note speaker (Finland)
Panelists: Poland, Sweden, Russia (the Duma Deputy E.F.Lakhova); Estonia together with Latvia

  2. Russia - “Women and Economy and Women and Labour Market” (Russia)
- Key note speaker (Russia)
Panelists: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Latvia  

3. The NCM and Denmark – “Alternative to Violence”(NCM)
- Key note speaker  (Sweden)
- Key note speaker (Norway)
Panelists: Estonia, Finland … 

All suggestions on the organization of the panel discussions (participants, moderators) should be sent to the Organizing Committee by 15 June, 2005. The final variant should be approved by 1 July, 2005.  The final program of the Conference with all the topics and moderators of the Workshops should be defined by 15 August, 2005 

ISC Group USA are working on the issue of Visa support and have an agreement with the hotel “Pribaltiyskaya” for accommodations. Information of prices is coming in the near future. 

Each country and organization taking part in the Conference will have its own stand for presenting information on gender issues oriented projects. It is planned to provide stands for entrepreneurs. More information about these issues is coming later on.