An open discussion titled "Women Building the Future" took place as part of the World Public Assembly. Participants included political scientist and founder of the GlobUs expert club Yulia Berg, President of the National Association of Women of Tajikistan Gulbakhor Makhkamova, Malaysian lawyer and politician Rosni Zahari, and Greek-Italian artist Lisa Sotilis.
Yulia Berg stated that it is crucial for women to embrace their strength and determination; without these qualities, reaching great heights is impossible.
"A woman must embrace her firmness and determination. Without them, one cannot reach the top. Determination and firmness entail discipline, hard work, and a systematic approach. Raising children, for instance, requires this to a tremendous degree. It is a blend of pain, suffering, boundless love, and happiness. One must view this holistically," she noted.
Gulbakhor Makhkamova, President of the National Association of Women of Tajikistan, recounted how, in the 1990s following the civil war, thousands of women became the sole breadwinners for their families.
"They didn't come with business plans, but with a question: how do I feed my child and keep my family together? We trained them in entrepreneurship and provided small loans without requiring collateral. That is how a project based on trust was born. We later grew into a financial institution with 30,000 clients and an active capital of $150 million," she shared.
Makhkamova emphasized that the women's agenda should not be confined to a separate session in a separate room.
"Peace begins not at the negotiating table, but in the home, in the family, and in the kitchen — where a woman feels safe. The women's agenda is, in fact, the agenda for peace and development," she declared.
Malaysian politician Rosni Zahari noted that women are shaping the future today.
"Imagine a world without women. It would be very quiet, very dirty, and I don’t know what would happen to political parties. Women are needed everywhere; nothing works without them," she emphasized.
Artist Lisa Sotilis spoke of art as an eternal energy that transcends politics and individuals, yet she highlighted the specific role of women.
"Culture and art represent an eternal energy of cosmic scale. We are all part of it. It is women who preserve and transmit this energy — through the home, the family, and creativity. In Russia, I saw that the values we speak of are alive. The world needs you," she remarked.
The participants agreed that female leadership is not about competing with men, but about liberation from fear and dependency. Furthermore, women's economic voice forms the foundation of stability for society as a whole.
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