On 6 March, RANEPA St. Petersburg hosted VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Women’s Agenda in the Modern World”. The event was co-organized with the Committee for Social Policy of St. Petersburg and the Committee for Social Protection of the Population of the Leningrad Region.
Over 260 participants from six countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Russia and the USA — came together to address issues related to the place of women in society, politics, economics, and culture.
The audience was welcomed by Olga Nesterova, Deputy director, RANEPA St.Petersburg, Elena Drapeko, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Culture, and Svetlana Agapitova, Human Rights Commissioner for St. Petersburg.
97 presentations within 5 topic sessions sparked discussions and arose great interest of the audience.
Particularly, “Women, Family, and Children” session addressed issues of domestic violence, legal regulation of support for large families, adolescent reproductive attitudes, and the phenomenon of single fatherhood. “Women in Culture and Social Media” session addressed topics such as cybersecurity, media literacy, and the transformation of women’s images in popular culture. The youth section featured over 20 presentations, ranging from an analysis of gender inequality in customs service to the role of women in DIY music scenes.
We don’t determine the conference topics in advance—they are formed based on presentations we receive. And each year, a new focus emerges. Initially the conference name was “Women in Public Service”, we discussed women’s issues in public administration and public policy. Then business joined in, and a topic session on the labor market emerged. This year, we received numerous presentations related to culture, creativity, and artistic expression, so we launched a new topic session “Women in Culture and Social Media”. The conference isn’t just a platform for academic discussion — it explores what’s truly relevant for women today.
Prof. Dr. Inna Vetrenko, Head of Social Technologies Chair, RANEPA St. Petersburg
