28 December 2015 – The Embassy of the Philippines in Moscow organized a forum on gender issues covering violence against women for the Overseas Filipinos in Russia at the Embassy of the Philippines on 27 December 2015. Dr. Zoya A. Khotkina, UN Expert on Gender Equality, talked about “Gender Equality in Russia”.
Dr. Khotkina mentioned that, compared to the Philippines, Russia has a very serious problem on gender equality. This is due, among others, to unfair economic/job opportunities for Russian women, education, healthcare and men-dominated political system.
Dr. Khotkina also commended the Filipinos for their accomplishments and continuing efforts to narrow the “gender gap.”
In 2014, the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index ranked Philippines on the 9th place while Russia got the 75th place.
Dr. Khotkina is a Senior Academic Specialist in the Laboratory of Gender Issues of the Institute of Socio-Economic of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISESP-RAS). She was accompanied by Dr. Valeri K. Egorov, Deputy Head of the International Relations Department and Dr. Olga N. Mahrova, Academic Secretary.
Overseas Filipinos took the opportunity to discuss with Consul General Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr. their various consular concerns during the event. END
