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Sakhalin Team Sums Up Their Participation in the Eurasian Women's Forum

Over 1,500 participants from 126 countries gathered in St. Petersburg. The event was hosted by the Federation Council and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. This year the meeting was focused on Women Building Trust and Global Cooperation topic.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session. “The credibility of the forum grows steadily. Your voice is heard and respected by the governments across the world. Your recommendations are heeded by major international organisations... Such participation and active efforts are extremely important for building a multipolar, fair and genuinely free world. We all share these views and do our best to shape a new, progressive global environment,” the President welcomed the audience.

He emphasised that the EAWF 2024 was attended by representatives from all over Russia, representing the multinational people of our country, its wealth of culture and time-honoured traditions, and thanked all the women of Russia ‘for their hard efforts for the benefit of society, for the incredible creative power’.

Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, also spoke of the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and ethnic integration while opening the forum-festival Women Preserving Traditions.

‘’A lot is being done to preserve indigenous peoples, creating conditions for promoting traditional arts and culture, protecting family traditions. Women pass on folk traditions through the family and generations,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised.

The international festival was inspired by the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation in partnership with the National Centre for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation and supported by Sakhalin Energy. 

The festival featured a round of discussions and presentations on the role of women in preserving and promoting traditional culture, native language and folk crafts.

Speakers at the forum-festival events represented regional organisations of the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation. Sakhaliners shared their best practices and spoke on topics related to the island region, the indigenous community and the women's movement:

- Svetlana Sangi, Chairperson of the Regional Council of Authorised Representatives of Indigenous Minorities of the North of Sakhalin Oblast (Indigenous NGOs: Best Practices of Tripartite Partnership session);

- Natalia Chaika, national sports referee and coach, Deputy President of the Sakhalin Oblast Federation of Northern Multisport (National Sports as a Mechanism for Preserving Traditional knowledge and strengthening demographic capacity’);

- Tatyana Shkalygina, Chairperson of the family and tribal community of the indigenous Nivkh people ‘Koivongun’ (‘Larch’) (‘Indigenous traditions as part of the family values preservation and youth education system’);

- Veronika Osipova, master of arts and crafts, member of the Union of Artists of Russia (‘Indigenous art: traditions and innovations’);

- Elena Nitkuk, Chairwoman of the Ethnocultural Centre ‘People of Sakhalin’ (‘People of Sakhalin’) (‘Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Peoples in the Formation and Development of Geobrand’).

The participants extensively participated in the business programme of the forum. “By speaking at such international platforms, we broaden our opportunities, meet like-minded people and team up to achieve our goals. Our women's experience in preserving traditions and building capacity is a contribution to building trust and global cooperation,” said Svetlana Sangi, Chairperson of the Regional Council of Authorised Representatives of Indigenous Minorities of the North of the Sakhalin Oblast.

The tools developed in the Sakhalin Oblast to support indigenous ethnic groups, preserve their languages and culture evoked keen interest from delegates representing Qatar, China, Indonesia, and other countries.

Sakhalin Energy shared its best practices at business programme sessions including Women in the Development of Indigenous Culture and Traditions, How to Improve the Attractiveness of Women's Professional Career Growth, and Corporate Social Support Programmes for Women: New Approaches and Technologies.

“Women are an integral part of the international and Russian agenda. And here we see a clear path set by the federal government for all stakeholders of the threefold system: government structures, society and business, of course. Being a leader in social responsibility, we strive to meet all the requirements and introduce the best practices in oil and gas, an industry offering broad opportunities for professional and leadership fulfilment of women across numerous disciplines,” said Natalia Gonchar, Head of Sakhalin Energy's Corporate Affairs Division.

24 September 2024

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