Press release 14.11.2014

YABLOKO Gender faction and For feminism movement conducted a round table on the status of women in the regions of Russia.

Galina Mikhaleva

Different topics were discussed at the round table including the deterioration of the situation on the whole and the absence of institutions for protection of women’s rights. On the other hand, the participants of the discussion emphasized the growth of interest to gender inequality on behalf of mass media and appearance of new feminists groups.

Chair of YABLOKO Gender faction Galina Mikhaleva explained that the deterioration of situation with women’s rights in Russia was the consequence of dramatic changes in Russia’s foreign and internal policy which the authorities call “a conservative turn” where a woman’s place was in the kitchen and the Orthodox Church was the main stand-by. As an example Galina Mikhakeva reminded of the ruling party representatives opinion that a Russian woman’s role should be confined to traditional roles of a wife and mother.

What is more, the economic factors will tell on the women’s status: the approaching recession in connection with the consequences of sanctions and drop in oil prices means the rising scale of military expenditures in the context of social budget cut including medicine, education and children’s benefits.

Natalya Bitten

Head of the For feminism movement Natalya Bitten agreed that the situation with women’s rights in Russia was getting worse. “Our goal is to determine the further actions, at least, to slow these processes down”, she said.

Alena Shishelyakina

Alena Shishelyakina, Representative of the For feminism movement, spoke about the process of traditionalisation in provinces. In her opinion the main feature of provincialism determination was the obedience of the federal summon. “Moreover, the role of religious organizations in mindset formation is very big. At the same time, those who study gender equality problems don’t display their activity not to cause irritation within the society”, she explained.

Ilona Playeva, member of the North Ossetia branch of YABLOKO Gender faction, said that the main problem in the region was the health of women and children in connection with bad environmental situation.

Ilona Playeva

Yulia Ostrovskaya

Yulia Ostrovskaya, a representative of the Centre for labour rights, spoke about the necessity of struggling against discrimination at work. She emphasized that the absence of mechanisms of struggling against discrimination is a big problem in Russia.

Deputy Chair of YABLOKO Gender faction Olga Radayeva told the participants of the discussion about her experience as a candidate for Moscow City Duma deputy. According to her, women candidates in Russia had a great future ahead since they had managed to achieve great progress within the past years which would allow to move further. “The only thing left is consolidation”, she stressed.

Anastasia Usachyeva

Anastasia Usachyeva, a representative of the Live Journal Femunity community, said that there was a slip not only between radical feminism and liberalism but even within radical feminists on the issue of consolidation. “We must create a single platform for cooperation”, she noted.

Summing up, Natalia Bitten emphasized that the main aim of women’s movement was to continue educational activities.

“We are going to continue the work on gender education, on women’s rights protection, we’re going to conduct street actions of protest, round tables and cooperate with different organisations. The main thing is that we should get united to achieve results in protection of women’s rights”, concluded Galina Mikhakeva.