OSCE must play bigger role in ending violence against women, says Chairman-in-Office

PARIS, 28 April 2005 - Violence against women is not only a widespread global problem but also a major obstacle to women's expression of free will and humanity's progress towards equality, development and peace, said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, at a meeting today in Paris.

He said the OSCE had been developing and implementing its activities in combating violence against women through its institutions and its 18 field missions in the entire OSCE region.

"The activities span the areas of education and training of women, domestic violence against women, women in armed conflicts, women and the economy, women in power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women and human rights of women," he said.

The Chairman-in-Office, speaking at a two-day OSCE workshop on the issue being held on 28 and 29 April, said that violence also reduces - or even nullifies - the possibility of women to freely exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"Unfortunately, not much has been done in the 10 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, to remove the key economic, social and cultural reasons for violence against women. Furthermore, greater efforts should have been made to implement improved legislation and to introduce efficient assistance to victims and survivors", the Chairman-in-Office said.

Prime responsibility for ensuring gender equality and combating violence against women fell above all on individual states and their governments, he said: "The OSCE can, together with other international organizations and institutions, stimulate their efforts in tackling these issues.

"With its unique approach to the issue of security and with its mandate, the OSCE has the potential to become one of the leading players in building consensus and partnerships among all participating States against all kinds of violence against women," said Minister Rupel.

"This can only succeed if all partners in these endeavours share the same view on the essence of the problem and apply the same analytic and action tools."

The OSCE, he added, was the right forum to act as an interlinking and guiding force in the efforts of various international actors to implement changes. "If we notice the obstacles facing women and if we believe we can overcome them, then we can make a difference."