I. Public Hearing on Consumer Rights

II. Refugee From Azerbaijan is Helping Other Refugees in the NIS

ANNOUNCEMENTS
III. Charity Foundation "Human Soul" Begins Publication of an Information Bulletin

IV. Summer Camp for Ill Children Seeks Assistance

V. Ecological-Cultural Center "Tsaritsino" Is Looking for Partners

VI. Women Information Network Begins Its Work

I. Public Hearing on Consumer Rights

On July 11, the President of the Confederation of Consumer Unions (KonfOP) A. Auzan and the Chair of the Moscow Consumer Rights Protection Union N. Golovkova participated in a session of the State Anti-Monopoly Policy Committee.

Deputy Chair of the Committee, N. Fonareva, pointed out that due to the joint efforts of the Committee and consumer unions, the protection of consumer rights has improved, in particular with goods: it is easier now to exchange or return a product. She mentioned that now consumers' complaints are mainly about services, particularly tourism and construction firms, financial and banking companies, and municipal services.

A. Auzan, president of the Confederation of Consumer Unions (KonfOP), said that 1995 was a crucial year for the consumer rights protection movement because consumers learned and began defending their rights for the first time in 70 years. Ms. Auzan emphasized the importance of consumers understanding their rights and of entrepreneurs, producers, and government officials knowing their obligations. KonfOP has prepared for publication a secondary school textbook on consumer rights.

Contact information:
Inter-Republic Confederation of Consumer Societies (KonfOP)
ul. Varvarka 14
103609 Moscow
Tel.: (095) 298-4649
Fax: (095) 298-4718
E-mail: [email protected]

II. Refugee From Azerbaijan is Helping Other Refugees in the NIS

In 1990 former Baku kindergarten director Adelina Mnatsakanova was sentenced to death by the Popular Front of Azerbaijan. She escaped to St.Petersburg, where in 1991 she established a center "Lastochka" (Swallow) to provide assistance to refugees from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Tajikistan, and other parts of the former Soviet Union. On July 10 the All-Russian Social Association "For Peace and Harmony" awarded Adelina Mnatsakanova its fourth annual "Golden Heart" medal, which is presented for humanism and love to children.

Contact information for the Adelina Mnatsakanova's center:
"Lastochka":
ul. Pobedy 18, St. Petersburg
Tel.: (812) 298-2889

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
III. Charity Foundation "Human Soul" Begins Publication of an Information Bulletin

The Charity Foundation "Human Soul" has announced it will soon begin publication of a bi-monthly bulletin on mental health issues. The new publication, "Initiatives," will include information on international foundations and organizations dealing with problems of psychological health, specialized literature, financial support for NGOs with similar interests, analytical materials, information on upcoming events and seminars about mental health issues as well as about the "Third Sector" in general. In upcoming issues, "Initiatives" readers will find materials on "Families of Mentally Ill: What Can They Change," "Retarded Children: Social Organizations Experience," "Introduction to the World Schizophrenia Society," and "How to Cover Conference Travel Expenses."

For subscription information, contact Charity Foundation "Human Soul" at:
Tel: (095) 963-1324 (Andrei Sinelnikov)

IV. Summer Camp for Ill Children Seeks Assistance

Children Charity Order needs 315 million Russian rubles to organize a summer camp for 150 ill children. The Order "unites children and adults creating a community of mutual humanity." It facilitates socializing of children with physical and psychological disorders by promoting their social contacts with each other.

Contact phone for Children Charity Order: 928-3743 (Galina Nikanorova)

V. Ecological-Cultural Center "Tsaritsino" Is Looking for Partners

Organized in 1989 to protect and reconstruct a historical and architectural monument of Tsar's village, the "Tsaritsino" center, is inviting ecological, cultural, historical, and other social organizations with similar interests to establish partnerships and exchange work experiences.

Contact phone in Moscow: (095) 262-7580 (Tatiana Sergeevna)

VI. Women Information Network Begins Its Work

A women's information network, ZhenSet (WomenNet), has recently been established to collect and distribute information about women's organizational activities in Russia and the NIS. ZhenSet is a successor of the ADL-Women Information Project and inherited ADL's "Women's Movement Database". According to ZhenSet's director, Tatiana Troinova, the first step of the network will be to publish a book containing profiles and contact information of women's organizations and organizations supporting the women's movement.

Organizations interested in submitting information about their projects and activities should contact ZhenSet:

Novyi Arbat (New Arbat), 11, Suite 1733, 17 floor.
Mailing address:
Tatiana Troinova,
per. Chernyshevskogo 11-15,
Moscow 103030.
Fax: (095) 291-2274
E-mail: [email protected]

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