OSCE conference highlights women’s role in building stability and prosperity in Mediterranean region

Ways to enhance women’s participation in public, political and economic life come under the spotlight at the OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Monaco on 28 October 2013.

Participants from OSCE participating states and the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia) will discuss how to overcome the many challenges to women’s participation, such as entrenched gender stereo-typing and unequal access to political resources, and look at ways to unlock women’s economic power through schemes such as female entrepreneurship and mentoring.

Also on the agenda are discussions on other areas for cooperation, with themed debates on trafficking for labour exploitation and combatting the financing of terrorism, especially the issues of ransom payment to free hostages.

Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk of Ukraine, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, emphasized the commitment of the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship to strengthening of political dialogue and practical interaction with Mediterranean Partners for co-operation.

"The starting principle guiding the OSCE in its relations with the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation is reflected an in inextricable linkage between security and stability in the OSCE region to that of adjacent areas, notably in the Mediterranean. Therefore, the security, political, economic, and social stabilization of this region is critical for maintaining European stability and security," he added.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier pointed to progress being made thanks to OSCE publications on women’s political participation and on gender issues in human rights institutions, now translated into Arabic, and events on human trafficking and terrorism held earlier this year.

“It is clear that both the Mediterranean partners and the OSCE face similarly complex challenges and have accumulated interesting experiences in enhancing women’s rights and representation in public and political life,” he said.  

More information on the Partners for Co-operation //www.osce.org/ec/43245