PRESS RELEASE

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women – constituted as an expert review body pursuant to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women – considered on July 15 during its 46th session in New York the sixth and seventh periodic reports of the Russian Federation on the implementation of obligations under this international treaty. The Russian delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development Maxim Topilin, included representatives of the Russian Presidential Administration; the Apparatus of the Government; the Ministries of Health and Social Development, Interior, Justice, Education and Science, Culture, and Foreign Affairs; the Prosecutor General's Office; the Investigative Committee thereof, and Rosstat.

Introducing the reports, the head of the Russian delegation covered the main areas of Russian gender equality policy and noted significant changes in women's status in our country in recent years. Despite the global financial and economic crisis, all of the socially oriented programs and national projects, including those concerning women, continue to be fully implemented, he stressed.

During the discussion, the Russian delegation answered more than 100 questions and provided information on a broad spectrum of issues relating to, inter alia, gender equality laws, measures to combat domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, and the elimination of discrimination in the areas of employment, health, education, and economic, social and cultural life.

Given the interest expressed by Committee experts, the delegation provided information on women's status in the North Caucasus region. Particular attention was drawn to the clear distinction pursued by us between traditional values and individual negative customs that are often wrongly associated with Islam. Members of the Committee agreed with this approach.

At the end of the dialogue, the Committee's experts concluded that the Russian Federation attaches great importance, at both the federal and regional level, to the implementation of Convention obligations.

In line with established practice, the Committee will soon prepare recommendations for the Russian side to improve women's status in Russia.

July 16, 2010