Press Release, December 2, 2013
Secretary of YABLOKO Political Committee, Chair of YABLOKO Gender faction, co-Chair of Council on Consolidation of Women’s Movement, Doctor of Political Sciences Galina Mikhaleva made a report on “The implementation of Article 19 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in present conditions” at a seminar in Vologda.

The seminar was conducted by Chair of the Vologda branch of YABLOKO Roman Morozov. Professors from different universities, journalists, students, activists of gender groups and YABLOKO members participated in the seminar.

Galina Mikhaleva spoke about the historic roots, reasons and forms of discrimination of women in all spheres of life in Russia: political, economic, cultural. “Article 19 of the Constitution which declares equal rights and opportunities for men and women doesn’t work. The reasons for this are gender stereotypes and the absence of state institutions responsible for gender equality implementation”, said Galina Mikhaleva.

The issues of discrimination of men in the family sphere were touched. The participants of the discussion mentioned the necessity of involving fathers in bringing up children and expressed concern with the intrusion of traditional roles to children in educational institutions including kindergartens.
The problem of propaganda of women’s traditional role by the Russian Orthodox Church was broadly discussed.

“Russia moves in the direction opposite to the global community as one of the goals of the third millennium declared by the UN is gender equality”, concluded Galina Mikhaleva.