LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editors,

Thanks a lot for publishing materials on the problem of violence against women, and especially for the invaluable addresses of crisis centers and support services. This is genuine practical assistance. We made copies of the articles conceptually defining violence and telling women what their rights are, and what are the rules of behavior when violence has occurred. We posted this material in our library on the exhibit board. Women are reading it and sometimes they copy the addresses; one reader told us she gave the address of the Pskov center to her sister, who for a long time has suffered beatings from her companion. And they helped her!

Give us more such material - specific, practical, businesslike.

Respectfully, Veronika Petrova, Balashikhinski district of the Moscow region

At last, real talk about men! I was very glad to read about the Altai "White Ribbon." They are simply terrific -- everyone should know about this group, especially young husbands and fathers and those starting a marriage. I recommend that every couple be given this text to read when they go to ZAKS [the state marriage bureau]. Also very interesting is the New York Times article on therapy with men-abusers [in America]. There is a lot in common with the reality of things here, a similar psychology at work. Of course we can only dream about such a developed system of support for victims of domestic violence. Nonetheless, the information is very valuable to us.

In other words, we have to learn, and once and for all understand that cruelty in the family is not just women's misfortune, it's an important aspect that cannot be resolved without the active participation of men. It seems to me that in general our women often underestimate men, brushing them aside like explosives that are not to be reckoned with. And then they complain of men's coarseness and lack of understanding.

One has to start with the first years of a little boy's life to instill in him respect for his mother, respect for women, and teach him to cooperate in the family environment. Here, iot is not just the enormous role of the father, but of the mother as well. My neighbor's young sons grew up without a father, who died, yet these boys are an example to many young men from two-parent families.

Evgenia Ivanovna, Zherebnykh, Voronezh region