omen to engage in partisan politics. Although the women's movement is small and fragmented, women's explicitly feminist groups Smith 6are raising political and economic issues as matters of public discussion. New organizations, such as the All-Russia Business Women's Federation, are engaged in a variety of practical efforts including, training in business, negotiating, and advocacy skills to deal with the problems that economic change has created for women. Starting in 1996, women's issues were more prominent in government-issued special decrees and resolutions. In an effort to overcome the fragmentation of the women's movement, as well as the lack of communication between women's groups and government officials, representatives of forty women's groups met with political leaders in March 1997. They signed a Charter of Women's Solidarity. Effective action to deal with the impact of economic change on women will require a combination of government and private efforts.STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION Develop skills training and job placement programs to address the particular needs of unemployed women. Develop social welfare programs that cushion the hardship that unemployment causes for women and their families. Create small business incentives and financing options, while removing regulatory and tax barriers. Support the development of women's business organizations to network with other businesswomen, share expertise, and address obstacles. Develop programs to enforce anti-discrimination laws. Address gender issues in the workplace with public awareness, training, and counseling programs. Smith 7 Foster public discussions of gender roles and an articulation of women's economic needs. Improve communication between business women's associations and policy makers on critical socioeconomic issues. Promote trai...
