THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BUSINESSWOMEN IN RUSSIA TALKS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT'S GENDER STRATEGY, AND OTHER THINGS
An Interview with Lidia Blokhina
Recently there has been lively discussion in Russia about a new document - The Gender Strategy of the Russian Federation, prepared by a group of specialists under the leadership of our First Vice Premier, Galina Karelova. Our own journalist colleagues have taken an active part at recent seminars in Briansk and Barnaul. Journalists from the central part of Russia and from Siberia proposed several points for inclusion in the gender strategy, on the situation of women in our profession and on highlighting social themes in the mass media. The Confederation of Businesswomen of Russia took the initiative in organizing this discussion, with the participation of regional leaders, researchers and journalists. The confederation's leader, Lidia Blokhina, talked with our correspondent, Alina Ilina.
----Lidia Vasilievna, tell us first of all how this idea came about of putting together a gender strategy. From what I know, the Ministry of Labor took an active part in formulating it, and also the Canadian agency "SIDA." Why did the interest in this come from Canada?
----The Russian-Canadian project "Women in the Labor Market" began two years ago and essentially it consisted of creating a gender strategy. During this period there were eight meetings in Moscow, the strategy itself was written, and right now it is being reviewed in all the ministries. It remains only to make minor revisions and clarifications. We expect that literally in a month or two it will be adopted as a government document.
This is a real breakthrough. A very large group of academics and public leaders worked on this document. By the way, I have
Why did the Canadians become our partners? Probably because in Canada, where democratic institutions have an old tradition, they began to discuss and resolve gender problems long ago, and they have something to teach us. Our work began with our meeting Jean Chretian, the Prime Minister of Canada. The Confederation of Businesswomen of Russia decided to work on a gender strategy as one of our high priorities. Looking at it from the Canadian side, I think they can make use of our Russian researches on this subject. The International Labor Organization is now also taking part in this project.
----Why does Russia need to adopt a gender strategy? After all, our constitution has article 19 on equal rights and opportunities, and a new draft law on equal opportunities has been discussed in the Duma [Russian parliament] for several months.
----First of all, that draft law is already outmoded and need to be revised. A gender strategy is vitally essential for undergoing major transition - we have evidence of this. Ukraine already has a gender strategy, and Kazakhstan ass well. Russia's UN organization has often pointed to the absence of one in Russia. A strategy lays out a direction for development, and the aspects that require consistent attention, and it becomes the basis for regional development plans, which would be very hard to formulate without an overall strategy.
The main point of the strategy is that every problem has to reflect the viewpoints of both men and women. Experience shows that new laws and practices have different consequences in the lives of men and of women, and in order to have stable harmonious social development, we think there needs to be a gender balance, reflecting the interests of both.
----So we're not talking about women crowding men out of their cushy positions, as people sometimes say, condemning the very principle of a gender approach?
----In no way. A gender approach means equal attention to the problems of men and those of women. It means seeking the ways to harmony in society. Indeed, one part of this strategy program is entitled "Harmonizing." It's a key word for us.
----Our country has already adopted a number of agreeable documents in support of women - the decrees of President Yeltsin from 1993-96, and various programs. Not one of these wonderful initiatives got financial backing. Although they were ratified by Russia in all sorts of official ways, not a single budget ruble was appropriated for these women's programs. Won't your strategy meet the same fate?
----We intend to have gender programs included in the development plans of the regions, with a line in the budget. We are savvy about how to get this budget line.
----And what has been the reaction of the regional leaders?
----One recent example was the strategy conference in Briansk. The region's governor, Yuri Lodkin, opened the conference, and other leaders of the region and the city took an active part. It is important, I think, that we managed to break the fearful view of men that women are trying to take over their space, their sphere of influence.
----And their cushy jobs?
----Our document is carefully considered. It clearly shows how a balanced gender policy is productive for society.
----What was the most difficult thing in the course of your work?
----Making the document sharp and succinct, concentrating on what is most important. We propose publishing all our working papers in the near future - they can be useful in taking decisions at the local level.
----What was your impression of working with journalists? Many women leaders, including women business entrepreneurs, complain about the prejudices of people in the mass media.
----In this regard, I think journalists have changed a lot recently. Among them are many very literate and intellectual people. You not only share your information, you learn from them. Changes that have come literally over the last year or two. Journalists have become more tolerant and more progressive, and on gender issues as well. I think this is partly thanks to the Association of Journalists, which has repeatedly raised gender issues in the press and in public discussion and on television. Moreover, society as a whole now realizes that without resolving gender questions, without overcoming the asymmetry, it is hard to have stable development and resolve a whole host of problems.
----So, we hope the gender strategy will be officially adopted by the government. Then what? What is on the confederation's agenda for the future?
----A law on women's entrepreneurship. It has long been needed, and it has potential. Women, on whose shoulders small to middle business rests, need support.
----Tell us about the confederation's other projects. Do you foresee continuing cooperation with journalists?
----This past spring we completed an automobile run from Moscow to Kiev. The confederation decided to publicize its work and to support entrepreneurs in the regions. So we took to our cars, to get to the Second International Forum of Women Entrepreneurs in Kiev. Seventeen women, all different and of various ages, in ten cars. President Putin's administration gave us their endorsement, we brought with us a greeting from the President himself, and presents for the veterans of the Great Fatherland War [World War II], and we also took an ikon of the Holy Trinity from the Tikhonov Hermitage to the Alexander-Nevsky Monastery.
It took us eight days just to reach the Ukrainian border. On the way we stopped at various institutions for children and visited women entrepreneurs. On May 9 in Briansk we took part in the Veterans Day parade. The governors of the various regions at their own initiative received us very warmly, and in Kiev we were received by Leonid Kuchma [then President], who listened to our wishes. As a result, two organizations were created of businesswomen in Ukraine. Now we are thinking of doing the same thing for Kazakh women entrepreneurs, for all the countries of the CIS [Confederation of Independent States, the former Soviet Union].
----Auto trips are also envisaged?
----Absolutely. And next time we'll definitely take some journalists with us.