Gender Equality Review Conferen­ces

The Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality aims to integrate gender equality into all aspects of the OSCE’s work and policies. The Gender Equality Review Conferences, which are being held on a regular basis since 2014, serve as platform for the stakeholders in this field to take stock and review the progress made so far and to also promote a more systematic implementation and targeted activities in priority areas for gender equality in the OSCE’s three dimensions of security. This comprises, for example, women working in the security sector, the economic empowerment of women, and the political and public participation of women. The conferences usually begin with a high-level panel session and are followed by thematic working sessions on each of the three security dimensions, as well as on institutional mechanisms and on emerging issues.

Conference participants also examine gaps in the implementation of the Action Plan and propose future solutions. In addition, they regularly explore opportunities for institutional development of the OSCE to promote gender mainstreaming in all the Organization’s branches.

Participants typically include, aside from representatives of the OSCE’s different offices working on gender equality issues, national stakeholders from government, civil society and academia.