The reporting and election conference of the Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Women's Union was held in Vitebsk

With each passing year, the role of women in modern society is growing, they are capable of solving a wide variety of tasks and asserting their active civic position. Women are members of governments, legislative bodies, head enterprises and organizations, and participate in the public life of the republic and their regions. Examples include well-known strong personalities and prominent leaders in Belarus: Marianna Shchetkina, Natalya Kochanova, Lidiya Ermoshina, Liliya Ananich. It is precisely such women that the NGO "Belarusian Women's Union" unites, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

There are also women in the Vitebsk region who do not need an introduction. Their work for the benefit of the region's residents speaks for itself, both in their primary activities and in public life. They contribute to the preservation of family values, the protection of childhood and motherhood, the spiritual and moral education of youth, advocate against orphanhood, promote the fight against alcoholism and drug addiction, and care for the health of the younger generation. The Vitebsk regional organization of the NGO "BWS" consists of 598 primary organizations, 21 district, and 2 city organizations, comprising about 15,000 women who call each other "dear friends." This is a great force capable of great deeds, as evidenced by the VI reporting and election conference of the regional organization of the BWS, held at the Vitebsk College of Culture and Arts.

The activities of the regional organization were presented by its chairperson, Larisa Olenskaya. She read out a greeting from the chairperson of the BWS, Marianna Shchetkina, and noted that the women of the Vitebsk region are capable of solving a wide range of issues for the benefit of the state, family, and society.

– The Vitebsk organization actively participates in the republican campaigns "Woman of the Year," "Women's Health – Nation's Health," "Not a Single Abandoned Child in Belarus," "Family Without Violence." Active work is being carried out to enhance the status of the family and the role of the mother. To this end, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee established a prize named after Hero of the Soviet Union Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko, – said Larisa Konstantinovna.

The honoring of women on the Day of

Mothers, newborns – on Peace Day (initiated by the regional organization of the Peace Fund and its representatives Zoya Krot and Tatyana Tumanova), the year-round regional campaign "Together for Life Protection" within the framework of the demographic security program. The experience of the primary organization of the Belarusian Women's Union of the Orsha Central Polyclinic in this area is interesting. Its chairperson is Irina Krachek, head of the maternity hospital, laureate of the republican "Woman of the Year" award in 2014. Also, the health center created on the basis of the regional clinical children's center, headed by Galina Puzanova, "Woman of the Year-2015". The Belarusian Women's Union active members pay attention to issues of family distress and social orphanhood. Within the framework of Decree No. 18 implementation, they visit problematic families and social shelters together with interested structures, and participate in New Year's campaigns for orphans. In recent years, they have visited many cultural and educational institutions, held an off-site meeting of the republican board of the Belarusian Women's Union in Polotsk, where they discussed the role of women in preserving spiritual and cultural heritage. The Women's Union resolves a number of issues in interaction with the church. Strong cooperation has been established with trade union, veteran, youth organizations, and the regional branch of the Peace Fund.

Members of the regional organization, heads of city, district, and primary organizations shared their work experience with those present, including Lyudmila Sleptsova, rector of the Vitebsk Regional Institute for the Development of Education; Elena Furs, director of the Belgosstrakh representative office in Novopolotsk; Natalya Kultenko, director of the Vitebsk orphanage, and others. The main message conveyed in their words was their deep concern about what is happening in society and a purely feminine desire to make the world a better place. The determination in their voices and interesting ideas confirmed that what has been planned will be accomplished.

It is gratifying to note that all the initiatives of the Women's Union are supported by the regional leadership. And so it will continue, as noted by Vladimir Penin, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, who was present at the conference.

– Dear women, when you spoke about your active work, anyone might think that you are paid for it.

money. But you bear a public burden, and in addition, you work in production, education, healthcare, you have families. I want to express great gratitude for what you do. Seeing such an asset, I understand that we will do much more," emphasized Vladimir Petrovich.

This work will now be led by the newly elected chairman of the regional organization of the BSZh, Galina Zhelanova, who heads the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society and is a member of the regional Council of Deputies. Galina Petrovna noted that the union will continue to focus on increasing the role of women in society. One of the ways is to more actively create primary organizations in work collectives and delve into problems in order to solve them.

Olga Maslovskaya. Photo by Dmitry OSIPOV. "Vitebskiye vesti".