OSCE-hosted meeting highlights need for gender-inclusive approach to sustainable security

VIENNA, 11 March 2009 - Representatives of OSCE delegations and staff discussed how to involve women and incorporate gender perspectives in security processes at a roundtable meeting that started in Vienna today.

"There is an urgent need to increase the participation of women as decision-makers in security talks, in peace negotiations and in their implementation," said Deputy Permanent Representative Eleni Sourani, who is representing the Greek OSCE Chairmanship at the expert meeting. "With the substantive participation of women, processes for conflict prevention, crisis management and peace reconstruction are more likely to be successful and sustainable."

Gender equality is a priority of the Greek OSCE Chairmanship.

Donald Steinberg, Deputy President for Policy at the International Crisis Group, and Margaret Ward, Director of the Women's Resource and Development Agency, Ambassador Heiner Horsten of Germany and experts, including OSCE Senior Gender Adviser Jamila Seftaoui, are taking part in the event.

The roundtable discussion on "Involving women: A key issue in security and peace reconstruction", was organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Gender Section to mark International Women's Day. It is the first in a series of events on gender and security planned for this year.

"Sustainable security must allow the full and equal participation of both sexes. Today's discussion and the events planned for this year will bring together experts from the OSCE region and around the world to share experiences and lessons learned," said Seftaoui. "This in turn will help raise awareness, implement OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 14/05 and support OSCE efforts to mainstream gender equality in all its policies and activities."