Mr Medvedev said in particular in his message:
“Your meeting commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first All-Russian Women’s Congress. This historic event marked the start of women’s real participation in public life and their increasing social activeness. Delegates from all corners of the country gathered in St Petersburg on that occasion to make the call out loud for their political and civil rights.
Today, women achieve impressive results in all walks of life: they are flourishing in business and state management, politics and science, and are making their mark ever more decisively in traditionally male-dominated areas such as law enforcement and the military.
Our country’s stable and steady development is opening up ever new opportunities for public organisations, including the Union of Russian Women, to become more fully involved in resolving key national issues, above all the affirmation of traditional family values, raising and educating the young generation, and care for the elderly.
I am sure that these important subjects will be discussed extensively during the forum and the proposals and recommendations that result will contribute towards promising new projects and important civic initiatives.”
The forum was organised by the national non-governmental organisation Union of Russian Women and is taking place in Moscow.