International Dialogue: Experts at the Second World Public Assembly Discuss the Preservation of Family Values
The Panel Session “Family as the Foundation for Preserving Humanity” took place on September 19, 2026, at the International Trade Center in Moscow. The event was part of the Second World Public Assembly “New World: Values That Unite Us,” held in Moscow from September 18 to 19.
The session was moderated by Galina Klimantova, President of the National Public Committee “Russian Family,” Doctor of Political Science and Professor; Fabrice Sorlin, a geopolitical analyst, specialist in Franco-Russian relations and father of 10 children; and Marina Volkova, Head of the Department of Happiness of the World Peoples Assembly.
One of the main topics of the discussion was the problem of preserving and transmitting family values and identity in a changing world, including under conditions of migration.
The issue of family resettlement was raised from the very opening of the session, as its second moderator was Fabrice Sorlin, who moved to Russia with his family.
– Leaving one’s native country and settling in a new one without any background is very difficult. And especially many challenges face large families wishing to move to Russia, – noted Fabrice Sorlin. He shared his own family’s experience, speaking about the difficulties of adaptation and problems with finding housing.
Yakov Pinneker, General Director of the OKA Agency, spoke about practices for supporting families during resettlement to Russia, emphasizing that systematic support is necessary in such cases. Waldemar Gerdt, Chairman of the International Council of Russian Germans, added that Russia provides such assistance to families that share traditional values.
Margarita Vdovina, Professor at the Department of Sociology of the Russian State Social University (RSSU) and Doctor of Sociological Sciences, raised the topic of digital socialization in the context of the development of artificial intelligence.
Sisters Evelina and Julia Agarwal, together with their father Krishan Kant Agarwal, General Director of the company Global Gel and member of the Indian Business Council, spoke about how artificial intelligence is entering the lives of representatives of all generations in different but confident ways, and how important it is to preserve humanity in changing conditions. A strong family helps above all in this.
– Preserving a harmonious future is impossible without preserving and transmitting traditional family values, and we are actively engaged in this, – noted Oksana Legchenko, Deputy Director of the All-Russian Children’s Center “Smena.”
Tariku Negash, Executive Director of the Ethiopian office of Global Serve and laureate of the regional stage of the Leader of Public Diplomacy Award 2026, noted that people’s desire to live a dignified life is often besieged by problems that humans have created themselves, such as artificial intelligence, global warming and resource depletion. Human selfishness also underlies family distress and divorces around the world. Tariku Negash called for the manifestation of mutual respect both within the family and throughout society as a whole.
The question of support measures for large families and families in difficult life situations also received further development at the plenary session.
Maysoun Subhi Mohammad Alkuabeh, Member of the Parliament of Jordan, emphasized that a strong family is the foundation of society and its support should not be limited only to finances. These must be comprehensive measures – primarily government programs implemented jointly with state and public organizations.
Nasser Zeidan, Expert in International Public Law and Political Science, Professor at the Lebanese University, emphasized that in the modern world it is important not to allow the destruction of peoples’ traditions and that representatives of Arab countries defend Russia’s position on this issue.
Susan Kone, President of the African branch of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP Africa), emphasized that peace rests on strong people and strong families. When people live guided by values and create strong families, this contributes to universal peace and harmony.
The following also participated in the discussion:
Larisa Dokuchaeva – Chair of the Council on Ancestral Culture of the World Peoples Assembly, author of Rodology and the Rodological Method of Counseling;
Natalia Fedotova – Executive Director of the National Public Committee “Russian Family”;
Natalia Alshuk – Head of the Department of External Relations of the Volgograd State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
Each of the proposals voiced during the session will be carefully analyzed by experts of the Russian State Social University. Summarizing the results of the discussion, Galina Klimantova noted the leading role of the family as the support of humanity in the world. Supporting families will help avoid the process of dehumanization among all peoples of the world.
Irina Markova-Shagal from Israel sent not just a video, but a warm greeting to the Second World Public Assembly. She wished everyone family comfort and happiness, emphasizing the particular importance of developing the institution of the family and traditional values. Her address became a bright emotional conclusion to the panel session on the family. The session found its touching finale in the speeches of children from different countries of the world, who shared their understanding of simple human happiness. This moment left no one indifferent.
Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.