WIN for Women and Men. Strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality

The main objective of the WIN project is to advance gender equality as a prerequisite for achieving and maintaining stable, prosperous and peaceful societies in the OSCE area. The project aims to accelerate the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, and all Ministerial Council decisions related to gender equality, and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

In 2025, the WIN project entered its second phase, building on the foundations and achievements of Phase I. The new phase deepens the project’s impact by addressing emerging challenges such as technology-facilitated violence, climate and natural resource pressures, corruption, disability-inclusive disaster response and conflict-related sexual violence, while continuing to strengthen women’s leadership, networks and institutional capacity across the OSCE region.

The result achieved by WIN will be threefold:

• Participating States are supported in intensifying their efforts to advance gender equality across all three dimensions of OSCE security.
• The participation and leadership of women in conflict prevention, mediation and other fora and processes relevant to comprehensive security at local, national and regional levels is enhanced.
• Public engagement for gender equality is strengthened.

In seeking the ultimate, long-term impact for women and girls to live free of discrimination and violence, there is a need for a shift in social norms and individual attitudes and behaviours. If individuals have better awareness and knowledge of social and structural barriers for women, then they can change discriminatory laws and practices, institutions and communities.

Three interconnected pillars of WIN project interventions

The WIN project works across all three OSCE dimensions, covering the role and agency of women in conflict prevention and mediation, gender perspectives in economic and environmental activities, as well as preventing and combating violence against women and girls.

WIN applies a flexible, needs-driven approach that supports women’s leadership across the OSCE region and enables rapid responses to evolving challenges. This includes close collaboration with women-led organizations, particularly in Ukraine, to address violence in conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence, and to strengthen the capacity of institutions such as the State Emergency Service and the National Police to implement gender-responsive policies and actions. Phase II continues to rely on strong partnerships with civil society and coordinated engagement with international actors. Through this approach, WIN empowers women to take on decision-making roles, expands practical knowledge and skills on gender equality, strengthens cooperation between government and civil society, and supports both established and emerging networks of women change-makers and men advocating for gender equality across the region.

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For any inquiries about the WIN project please contact win@osce.org.