OSCE Special Representative on Gender Issues visits Albania, encourages improvement in implementation of gender-related commitments

TIRANA, 4 April 2014 – Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender Issues June Zeitlin and ODIHR Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti issues Mirjam Karoly paid a three-day country visit to Albania from 2 to 4 April.

Women’s political participation, violence against women and issues related to Roma and Sinti women were the main topics of discussion during the first country visit of June Zeitlin under the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, which was organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania.

During the visit, Zeitlin and Karoly had substantive discussions with Niko Peleshi, Deputy Prime Minister of Albania, Bardhylka Kospiri, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Elona Gjebrea, Deputy Minister of Interior, parliamentarians, as well as with representatives of civil society, Roma women activists and National Platform for Women.

As a result of the country visit to Albania, the OSCE will issue a report, which will include specific recommendations on how to improve the implementation of gender-related commitments. 

“I was impressed by the policy commitments on gender equality and the strong representation of women in the Council of Ministers and the parliament of Albania,” Zeitlin stated.

The joint visit with ODIHR’s Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti issues is particularly important in view of the OSCE ministerial decision adopted in Kyiv last December on enhancing OSCE efforts to implementation the Action Plan on improving the situation of Roma and Sinti, with a particular focus on Roma and Sinti women, youth and children.

“There is still a long way to go when it comes to local integration and equal opportunities for Roma and Egyptians, and even more so for women of these communities,” Karoly said. “They face multiple forms of discrimination based on their gender, ethnicity and poverty and are often not aware where to find remedy or support services.”

Zeitlin and Karoly said they hoped that one outcome of their visit would be to create greater synergies between Roma and Egyptian women with other networks working on gender equality. They said they found positive momentum with the new government and looked forward to hearing about the implementation of such commitments in the future.

The OSCE is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality this year. Building on this, the Swiss Chairmanship endeavours to strengthen the co-ordination and the focus of the work on gender in the organization in order to reinforce its institutionalization. In the joint work plan of their consecutive chairmanships in 2014 and 2015, Switzerland and Serbia expressed their commitment to work on enhancing gender mainstreaming and the implementation of all gender-related commitments.