I. Despite Amendments, Legislation on Religion
Remains Discriminatory & Anti-Constitutional
On August 28th members of the Council on Human Rights met at the Sakharov Museum to discuss the newly amended bill on freedom of conscience and religious associations. According to representatives of the Council, even in its amended form, the bill cannot be considered constitutional or in accord with international standards of religious freedom. Many different religious groups in the Russian Federation consider the bill to be discriminatory and advocates of human rights have stated that, if passed into law, the bill would only aggravate tensions between religious groups and exacerbate discrimination.
Despite amendments to several sections of the bill, it still continues to support inequality between religious groups, said Duma deputy Galina Starovoitovaia. Additionally, the amendments failed to clarify certain terms used in the bill that aren't part of standard legal lexicon --for example, what exactly is meant by the term "religious followers?"
President Boris Yeltsin's subsequent veto of the bill has caused an aura of secrecy and subterfuge to surround it. According to a member of the Institute of Religion & Rights, groups working to oppose the bill now have practically no access to the bill and are not being apprised of amendments being made by the bill's sponsors.
II. Moscow Law Supporting Charitable Activities Celebrates its Second Year
On August 28th, representatives at the Moscow City Duma celebrated the second anniversary of a law on charitable activities and the resurrection of the city's Charitable Council, which existed before the Revolution. Participants at a press conference held at the Duma told journalists about the effects of the Charitable Council's work and the new law. "Many of us have understood the word 'charity' as applying only to free products given to the old, sick or orphaned," said Duma deputy and Charitable Council representative Vladimir Katushenok. "However, that definition isn't wholly accurate. Charitable help can benefit many different sections of the population."
Representatives from several charitable organizations currently operating in Moscow appeared at the press conference to describe their activities. The group "Good Deeds Without Borders" has implemented a program for Muscovites that educates city residents about which municipal services they are obliged to pay for and which are the responsibility of the city. The group also runs a program in conjunction with Moscow theaters that allows elderly citizens to attend events that they could not otherwise afford. Another organization, "Peace to Your Home," described their efforts to rebuild dilapidated children's playgrounds in over 20 Moscow residential complexes.
Contact telephone (Vladimir Katushenok): (095) 947- 2210
III. Women in the Airline Industry are Subject to Discrimination
On August 22nd the Union of Women hosted an open forum for female aviators, organized by the "Aviatrix" club. 150 pilots and airplane technicians from Russia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova and France attended the event. Among the topics discussed at the forum, discrimination against women in the airline industry was considered to be the most pressing issue. It remains difficult for women to obtain sufficient experience and accreditation to work in the airline industry. While men begin their careers in flight from a professional foundation, women must start from clubs for hobbyists. This discrepancy endures throughout women's careers in the flight industry, ending with disproportionate pensions for women and men.
Participants discussed changing the legal status of the "Aviatrix" club; currently, the club is registered in Moscow, but members hope to open branches throughout Russia and in neighbouring countries. The club invites women from all realms of the flight industry to join the organization from navigators to mechanics.
Contact telephone: (095) 476-2369 (Galina Korchuganova, president)
IV. Employment Agency for the Deaf to Open in St. Petersburg
Under the auspices of the Russian Society for the Deaf, and with the cooperation of local committees on labour and social defense, an employment agency for the deaf is slated to begin operations in St. Petersburg. The agency will place deaf employees in positions in private companies, with a special focus on the textiles industry. The city's employment database will be used to seek job openings for deaf workers.
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