Press Release, 10.03.2015

Dr.Prof. Galina Mikhaleva, Chair of YABLOKO’s Gender Faction, made a report on the situation with  women and women entrepreneurs in Russia at the ALDE-GEN conference conducted in Barcelona on the eve of 8 March.

Conference “Female Entrepreneurship” was organized by the Gender Equality Network of the ALDE  party, which YABLOKO is full member of.

The reports were made by Flo Clucas, President of ALDE-GEN, UK,  Vice-Presidents Mireia Canals, Catalunya, Sissle Kvist, Denmark and Gesine Meissner, Germany.

The participants of the conference stated that although the number of women entrepreneurs in the world had been growing, the growth was very slow. Even in the countries where there are programmes to promote women in government and in business, including quotas on electoral lists and large companies boards, women still encounter problems in combining family and work. Average level of wages and incomes for women is lower than for men.

Galina Mikhaleva focused in her report on Russia’s lack of institutions for ensuring gender equality. Situation for women-entrepreneurs is aggravated by the merger of business and government and pressure on small businesses, where women are traditionally involved. A “conservative turn” and raising of the role of traditional religions contribute to strengthening of gender stereotypes in the Russian society and hinder advancement of women in business and in politics.

YABLOKO Gender Faction is determined to further develop cooperation with its European partner organisation.