PRESENTATION BY MS. TATIANA PORTNOVA, Russia

1. Brief overview of female business progress in RF.

In our country the women make 53% of the overall population. Despite the fact that their educational level is higher (higher education has 60% of women and less than 50% of men), the top positions in business are taken mostly by the representatives of the “stronger sex”. o­nly 90% of women in the age of 35 to 49 are working, out of which 96% are employees.The women who took the risk to start their own business face much more difficulties than men. Among the most widespread challenges are unequal startup opportunities, a small number of females in power (and, as a result, lack of efficient lobbying), stereotypes of public thinking. But in spite of these difficulties every third entrepreneur in Russia is woman.

2. Experience of RF regions

According to statistics, the Ministry of Justice officially registered approximately 600 female organizations, while by unofficial data their number varies within 2,000. And we cannot give the number of business ventures headed by women simply because quite unlikely that there are, in fact, statistics grouping the entrepreneurs by the sex principle. Three-fifths of these organizations are practicing in the law field addressing such issues as rights of some groups of the citizens, public defense at courts and others. The same is true of the regional female organizations. They are established o­n the basis of the following feature – each region has its own problems and o­n this level the women try to address them. In 1992 the Association of Female Entrepreneurs of Russia was registered, in the same year the Association of Female Entrepreneurs of Bashkortostan was registered. The Public Regional Movement “Novgorod Female Parliament” also sees as its target the addressing of social, economic, legal and psychological issues of women.

3. Support of non-commercial associations of female entrepreneurs by the state

Quite recently, o­n July 12 the Moscow City Duma passed the law of Moscow “On interaction of state power bodies of Moscow with non-governmental non-commercial organization” stressing the need to provide support to the activities of non-governmental non-commercial organizations. This is a good opportunity to take a female approach to what should be done in the social sphere, in other words, what concerns protection of the family, childhood, maternity and fatherhood, how to facilitate further development of the children and youth public movement, how to better prevent negative phenomena in the youth circles. Here wide prospects are opened for activities of non-commercial organizations established by women who at the same time have some experience in business. The support of the state in this case will be quite concrete. These are provision of grants and various privileges o­n payment of taxes, o­n rental payment for land, premises.

4. Available legal base, lack of single regulation

There is a concept of demographic development of Russia that says about life span and health quality, growing birthrate and migration policy. At the same time numerous laws and regulations, both o­n federal and regional levels, are adopted that try to address the problems of female entrepreneurs. Thus, in the capital there is the Law “On foundations of the small business in Moscow”, that says in a separate line about the need to attract women into business activities. Every three years the Moscow Government adopts an integrated program of small business development and support that also stresses the need of female entrepreneurs support.

5. Proposals and perspectives of female business development in RF

Development of a network of associations and organizations of business women plays an ever important role in lobbying, o­n behalf of women, the protection of their rights and interests, giving them a real helping hand. Women should be attracted to addressing all social issues posed before the society. o­nly in this case the decisions will be taken adequately. We need further active interaction, partnership of women business associations and public organizations; elaboration of a joint strategy o­n elimination of gender prejudices and erasing from mass thinking of stereotypes o­n the women secondary role in the society, business and power structures; creation of information infrastructure for active interaction of women-leaders, exchange of experience, participation in implementation of joint initiatives.