OSCE Centre supports publication of gender analysis manual to enhance local and regional budgeting in Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 23 December 2010 - An OSCE-organized workshop on gender mainstreaming for local and regional administration employees took place today in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.

The workshop, which was jointly organized by the Centre in Bishkek and the Osh-based women's non-governmental organization Ensan-Diamond, introduced a manual on gender analysis in programme budgeting in Russian and Kyrgyz.

The workshop was the final event of a series of seminars held as part of an OSCE project throughout the year in different parts of the country to raise awareness on gender issues and gender-focused approaches to local policy-making.

Participants discussed issues related to gender planning and gender budgeting during the workshop.

"This workshop and those preceding it help local-self governing bodies use gender analysis and gender budgeting to make decisions, backed by financing from local budgets, that are better tailored to the different needs of both women and men," said Hugo Karlsson, the Head of the OSCE Field Office in Osh.

Jamilya Kaparova, director of Ensan-Diamond, added: "Gender analysis and gender budgeting is not new to most state authorities; however there is a need to assist them in implementing effective gender sensitive programmes. Throughout this project, I have noticed with satisfaction that self-governing bodies in southern Kyrgyzstan are increasingly interested in applying gender-oriented approaches and methods in their daily work."

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek works to promote gender awareness and equality in Kyrgyzstan.