SUMMARY

The issue of the journal is focused on women's human rights in business.

One may find the brief summary of the contents as well as acknowledgment to the Embassy of Netherlands for financial support of the journal in the letter of the editorial board to readers.

The author of the first article of the issue is Ms. G. Silinsh, head of Arbitrage Expert Consulting Company, the President of the organization "Woman and Society". The article is about the issue of women in anti-crisis management and social responsibilities of people involved into business. In the beginning of the article the author has given a brief review of the current economic situation in the world. Ms. Silinsh referred to globalization, strengthening private business, new technologies as basic reasons for reconstructing enterprises under the current unstable circumstances.

In Russia significant measures have been undertaken in terms of financial development of economics. One of the examples is the All ─ Russia contest "Golden Ruble" initiated and managed by women. The author has also underlined significance of international experience for developing business in Russia and mentioned examples of successful partnerships between women of Norway and Russia existing in several regions of Russia.

Irina Yakovleva has contributed the article about the International Conference "Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities in Business" held in Yekaterinburg (the Urals Regions) on May 22, 2002. The event was mostly focused on the issues of women in business under the circumstances of globalization. To highlight the current situation in the region the author has referred to a life story of Svetlana Yudina, an owner of a prosperous family enterprise in the city of Yekaterinburg.

Dr. Joanna Gorbachova has contributed a complete review of international legal documents referred to the issue of gender discrimination in labor field of countries of the European Union. The article is based on the materials of the 7th European Congress on Labor Law and Social Protection held in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 4 ─ 6, 2002. As a result of analysis of related documents Dr. Gorbachova has named basic approaches to the term "discrimination" as well as the issue of equal rights and equal opportunities of women and men. Thus, the author has focused readers' attention on direct/indirect discrimination, actual equality in labor relations in reference to various fields and experiences of different countries.

The Labor Code of the Russian Federation in terms of the issue of social partnership has been reviewed by Ms. E. Askarova, a Board Member of the "Women and Conversion" organization, a member of the Moscow Union of Lawyers. The new Labor Code has dramatically changed mechanism of regulation of labor relations. Thus, the entire section is dedicated to the issue of social partnership in labor field which is meant to improve labor conditions for everyone. Besides, the author draws readers' attention to other important guarantees provided by the Labor Code, particularly in terms of women's human rights in labor.

The crucial issue of gender partnership in state institutions and related myths have been highlighted by Dr. L. Vagina and Dr. M. Kashina. The authors are based on philosophic approaches to the issue, referring to ideology in culture, myths in stereotypes. In relation to this, the main object of the authors is the issue of women in power. They has provided statistics on involvement of women into power, stating that there are just a few women in politics. Thus, in order to reach principles of gender equality, it is necessary to formulate the stereotypes, to analyze degree of their relation to status quo and then to evaluate opportunities for their transformation. The authors has particularly emphasized significance of breaking stereotypes related to women's participation in power. According to Dr. Vagina and Dr. Kashina, women's involvement into state and power structures would definitely stabilize the society. Then the authors has presenter their views on the factors which would help to eliminate the existing societal myths.

Dr. N. Berezhnaya, head of the Association "Equality and Peace", Board Member of the organization "Senior Generation" has contributed her article on protection of senior women's rights. The article is based in the information about the Second World Conference on the issues of aging held in Madrid, Spain, in April 2002. Dr. Berezhnaya was a participant of the World Forum on NGO s dealing with the aging issues was also held in Madrid simultaneously. Participants of the Forum emphasized crucial significance for uniting efforts of governments, scholars and HGO s aimed at creation of the new era for senior people. The issue of solidarity between different generations was particularly emphasized at the event. The Conference on European economic policy on aging issues held in Berlin, Germany, in September 2002 has become practical step toward implementation of the dicuments adopted in Madrid. The author's conclusion is that the issue of gender equality is the main idea of all documents adopted both in Madrid and in Berlin.

The final article of the issue is on gender discrimination in business. The author has highlighted the review of sociological research related to the issue. The three phases of the research have been conducted both in Moscow and in the regions of Russia from 1995 to 2000. The research data proved existence of gender discrimination in business. Thus, 40% of women in Moscow and 45 % of women in the regions of Russia insisted on existing gender discrimination in business. The statistical data have been illustrated by real women's stories. One of the chapters is focused on gender discrimination in promoting women to crucial positions in Russian business companies. According to the data of the research, gender stereotypes are in the way of women's careers but women have become more advanced in creating ways for combating stereotypes in business field. The author has also mentioned an unexpected outcome of the research. Thus, majority of directors of business enterprises are for gender equality. However, so far it is related to "traditional" women's occupations. Besides, an important obstacle for women in business is state policy related to the issue of gender equality. According to the research of Charity Aid Foundation (CAF), women in business enterprises do not trust the state. The final conclusion of the author is about the state as the main factor in gender discrimination processes. Thus, women leaders have to develop individual strategies for combating gender discrimination in Russia.

The summary is prepared by
Larisa Ponarina