Magadan's Women Deputies Tackle Healthcare and Support Gaps

Our website, April 29 – The Magadan Regional Duma hosted its first roundtable discussion with women deputies, held as part of the Women's Club initiative under the legislative assembly and dedicated to Russian Parliamentarianism Day, the Duma's press service reports.

Participants shared insights into their professional and public work, highlighting successful practices. The dialogue brought together—both in person and via video conference—regional parliamentarians, city council deputies, and representatives from all municipal districts of Kolyma, as well as members of the Women's Club working group.

The event was moderated by Victoria Golubeva, Deputy Chair of the Magadan Regional Duma and head of the Women's Club working group. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the meeting's relevance and timeliness, expressing confidence that this format would enhance collaboration among women in government.

"There has long been a need for closer interaction, and today we've finally made it happen. I thank everyone who supported this idea. On the ground, we tackle day-to-day challenges, focusing on what's immediate, and we don't engage with each other as often as we'd like. Yet there are issues that demand comprehensive, real-time solutions. This gathering has united dozens of women from Kolyma who work every day to improve life here. But too often, your achievements are known only to those who work alongside you. That needs to change—and it needs to change now."

In-person attendees included Magadan Regional Duma deputies; Ksenia Sukhankina, head of the Support Center for Special Military Operation (SMO) participants under the United Russia party; Yulia Domrina, a city council deputy and head of the SMO Aid Collection Headquarters; Lennara Ivanova, a deputy of the Khasyn Municipal District Assembly and director of the district's House of Culture; Svetlana Kovalenko, a deputy of the Tenkin Municipal District Assembly and a senior specialist in the administrative and economic department of Pavlik Gold Mining Company; and Valentina Ampilogova, director of the Magadan Regional Universal Scientific Library named after A.S. Pushkin and chair of the Committee for Families of Defenders of the Fatherland in the Magadan region.

Victoria Golubeva, who also serves as the regional coordinator for the New School, Strong Family, and United Russia Women's Movement projects and heads the editorial department of the Union of Women of Russia, shared her experience and the initiatives she has implemented. She presented the Women's Club, a project of the Legislative Assembly, whose working group was established to develop and carry out a program aimed at boosting the socio-political engagement of women in Kolyma in addressing the region's socioeconomic challenges and creating opportunities for their initiatives.

Golubeva also reported on the findings of a survey conducted among women in the region, designed to identify key issues and gather proposals for solutions. The areas most lacking in women-led initiatives were found to be healthcare and psychological support, as well as assistance for women in difficult life circumstances. Over the course of a month, nearly 200 residents of the region—of varying ages and professions—completed the questionnaire. Around 60% of them were already involved in Kolyma's public life in some capacity. Most respondents supported the idea of holding a women's forum in the region and suggested potential speakers they would like to see.

The working group decided to continue the survey, focusing on expanding its reach to municipal districts. Golubeva urged her fellow deputies to join the effort, and the meeting participants unanimously endorsed the initiative.

She also reminded attendees that anyone who missed the March survey could still fill out the form and share their ideas at any time—the link to the questionnaire is available on the official website of the Magadan Regional Duma under the Women's Club section.