OSCE Centre promotes gender equality in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT, 26 February 2014 – Fifteen policy-makers and law-enforcement officials discussed gender equality in society at an OSCE Centre-organized seminar in Ashgabat today.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat held the seminar to raise participants’ awareness about women’s empowerment and the importance of gender mainstreaming in the development of public policy.

International standards and OSCE commitments in promoting women’s rights, gender equality in state institutions and the role of women in business, were highlighted by Hanna Sands, an expert from the OSCE Secretariat.

“As an OSCE participating State, Turkmenistan has ratified a number of international treaties promoting gender equality and is committed to bringing its national legislation in line with relevant international standards,” said Vardon Deniz Hoca, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “The seminar is another example of the Centre’s activities in promoting gender equality and we believe that it will support the host Government’s efforts in adopting and implementing gender-equal policies.”

The seminar for state officials will be followed by another event on women’s rights for civil society representatives. This seminar will enhance the knowledge of civil society organizations about gender issues and gender equality and will build their capacity to implement projects on gender issues.

The agenda of the seminar will include matters related to women’s security in the modern world, mechanisms for the protection of women’s rights and the role of NGOs in promoting women’s security.