Dagestan launches Internet portal on women's problems

The Dagestani public organization "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights" has launched a portal "Daptar.ru" and positions it as the first online resource dedicated to problems of Dagestani women.

The first materials of the website are on domestic violence, early marriages and other problems faced by women in Dagestan. According to the authors of the portal, the word "daptar" in the Arabic language means "diary" or "chronicle".

As stressed by Svetlana Isaeva, the head of the organization "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights", the so-called "honour killings", gender-based selection, religious pressure – these and other problems are topical for Dagestan.

"Along with that, we also want to show the achievements of Dagestani women in public and political life, in culture and sports. This will be a kind of example for other women," hopes Isaeva.

The project is implemented by donations from Global Fund for Women. "This money will enable the project to hold on till July, but I hope we'll try and find funding to continue. Besides, we plan to continue with a project on children's rights," said Isaeva.

Zakir Magomedov, the coordinator of the organization and the editor-in-chief of the "Daptar.ru", said that the website has a feedback form that allows readers to ask questions and get free help – both legal and psychological.