ODIHR to hold training course for Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz women

BISHKEK, 13 April, 2007 - Increasing women's participation in politics and public life is the aim of a week-long training course, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), that starts in Bishkek tomorrow.

The event will bring together participants from Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. They will discuss lobbying for gender policies on local and national level, co-operation with government structures and developing initiatives to promote equal rights and opportunities for women and men in both countries.

"Establishing women's networks and supporting women's initiatives, particularly in rural areas, has been a part of our long term strategy to promote gender equality in the South Caucasus and Central Asia," said Tiina Ilsen, ODIHR adviser on gender issues.

"ODIHR's work in this area has focused on building the capacity of women leaders, creating effective co-operation mechanisms among women's groups, developing national gender expertise and facilitating co-operation among government structures and civil society."

During the last several years, women's networks in Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan have successfully worked to raise awareness on women's rights in rural areas and to increase women's participation in politics and public life.

"I am looking forward to exchange experiences and information with our Kyrgyz colleagues and hope to learn from their achievements," said one of the participants, Solmaz Yusifova, from the Zakataly region in Azerbaijan.