This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
Published on November 13, 2019, Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev of the Russian Federation to Kenya emphasized the significance of development in addressing population and development challenges during a meeting in Nairobi commemorating the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo (ICPD+25).
According to Maksimychev, Russia has consistently supported the full implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action as a general framework for international and national efforts in the field of population and development. He noted that the key to successful implementation lies in development in all its forms, including the eradication of poverty, universal access to health and education, creation of livelihoods, and opportunities for human development and overall economic growth.
The Ambassador stressed that the empowerment of women and true equality of the sexes are integral parts of these efforts. He also highlighted the importance of considering the specificities and economic circumstances of each country, stating that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely leads to success.
As part of Russia's development assistance measures, Maksimychev announced plans to establish a multimillion-dollar window for women's development within the Russia-UNDP Trust Fund for Sustainable Development. This initiative aims to expand women's economic opportunities and create sustainable livelihoods for them.
Russia has a long tradition of addressing issues related to the ICPD agenda. The Soviet Union, which is now defunct, was among the first countries to recognize and implement equal rights for women, introduce universal free medical service, education up to university level, and the right to old-age or disability pensions.
Over the past two decades, life expectancy in Russia has increased by eight years to 73.7 years (78.5 for women and 68.5 for men). Infant mortality rate has reduced by more than 3.5 times (4.7 per 1,000 live births), and maternal mortality has fallen by five times. The goal is to push life expectancy up to 78 years by 2024 and further to 80 by 2030.
These achievements have been made possible through the implementation of a comprehensive health policy that includes universal coverage of all citizens by free preventive medical examinations at least once a year and the creation of a network of high-tech medical centers.
As of 2018, the state health budget was 2.6 per cent of the GDP (2.6 trillion roubles, or Sh4.2 trillion). This year, it is 2.9 trillion roubles (Sh4.7 trillion) or 2.7 per cent of the GDP. In the 2020 budget, expenditure will be increased by 50 per cent from 2019.
There is a three-level system of specialized medical care for all women and newborns before and during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period, with 44,000 obstetrician-gynaecologists (5.7 specialists per 10,000 women).
Abortion was legalized in Russia in 1920, and every Russian woman has the right to decide to have an abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, due to strong support for women and children, the number of abortions decreased by two-thirds between 2000 and 2019.
Additionally, Russia has a strong social policy that represents investment in human development. Between 2007 and 2018, more than nine million women benefited from the Maternal Capital programme, which provided a special financial assistance of Sh435,000 to every woman who gave birth to or adopted a second or consecutive child.
Every mother enjoys the right to paid maternity leave and guaranteed return to work to the previous workplace. Every citizen is entitled to state old-age or disability pensions, with 44 million Russian men and women receiving monthly pensions. Full secondary education is free and obligatory, with a total number of students in higher education of 4.3 million.
The unemployment rate in Russia is 4.9 per cent, one of the lowest. Women's share in the population of Russia is 54 per cent, and in the labour market, it is: Education 82 per cent, health (79), civil service (72), finance and insurance (69), and culture, sports, and entertainment 66 per cent.
I hope the Russian experience will be useful in the discussions around population and development challenges.
Mr Maksimychev is the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Kenya.
