19.09.2024 / News

A. Otke: In all indigenous cultures, women have a special role

The senator spoke at a session of the EWF dedicated to women in the development of traditions and culture of indigenous peoples.

Member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Anna Otke took part in the events of the IV Eurasian Women's Forum in St. Petersburg.

At a platform dedicated to women in the development of traditions and culture of indigenous peoples, Anna Otke spoke about the support of representatives of indigenous peoples in Russia.

In the territory of 28 regions of the North, Siberia and the Far East of Russia, there live 40 indigenous peoples, who are singled out as a separate category of citizens with a special legal status.

"There are no uniform approaches to supporting indigenous women in the regions of the North, Siberia and the Far East. A range of issues is addressed at the federal, regional and municipal levels. The diversity of socio-economic conditions in the regions affects decision-making taking into account regional specifics. At the same time, there is a tendency to combine measures to support indigenous women with support for family and childhood. It is the nomadic woman who faces the task of establishing a home and breathing life into it. It is women who are responsible for preserving culture and passing on traditions to future generations," Anna Otke noted .

According to her, in addition to measures of state support for women representatives of indigenous peoples, Russia has developed a successful practice of grants. These include grants from regional governments to support NGOs and grants in the area of corporate social responsibility.

The senator drew attention to the fact that in all indigenous cultures, women are given a special role in resolving economic issues; due to tradition, women are active participants in programs aimed at developing small businesses. A number of programs provide financial support to indigenous women who want to start their own business related to traditional sectors of the economy, such as hunting, fishing, reindeer herding, or traditional crafts.

Anna Otke gave examples of support measures in a number of subjects of the Russian Federation. For example, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, there is a "chum capital" program to support large families leading a nomadic lifestyle. Such families are given chum capital upon the birth or adoption of a third or subsequent child. The set, costing more than 500,000 rubles, includes all the items needed in the tundra to set up a chum and sleds.

Since 2016, the Law on the Nomadic Family has been in effect in Yakutia, and the Young Reindeer Herder program is also being implemented, according to which young reindeer herders are entitled to social benefits for the purchase or construction of housing.

In Chukotka, support measures for families engaged in traditional economic activities to pay for vacations have been expanded. Since last year, such assistance can also be received by pensioners - former employees of agricultural enterprises and communities.

The Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum is taking place from 18 to 20 September in St. Petersburg. The organizers are the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The operator for the preparation and holding of the event is the Roscongress Foundation.

Official forum website: 2024.eawf.ru.