OSCE forum in Kyiv to discuss strategies for increasing women's participation in political life

KYIV, 5 June 2008 - A two-day OSCE forum for elected women councillors from local councils of Ukraine will open in Kyiv tomorrow.

The forum, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and civil society organizations, aims to identify best practices and strategies for promoting women's leadership and participation in political life at the national and local level.

"Encouraging active participation of women in political life is of fundamental importance for developing a truly participatory democracy," said Tiina Ilsen, the head of the ODIHR's gender programme.

The forum will bring together locally elected councillors from the regions of Chernovtsy, Zaporozhe and Kirovograd as well as members of parliament, representatives of the state chancellery and various governmental institutions working on promoting gender equality in political decision-making processes.

Several international participants will also attend, including a member of the European Parliament from Estonia, members of the Albanian parliament and civil society representatives from countries with similar OSCE programmes.

The meeting will focus on Ukraine's state policy for the promotion of equal rights and opportunities among women and men, the work of locally elected councils in promoting gender equality, the role of political parties in fostering women's participation in political processes and governance structures, and experiences made in other countries such as Albania, Estonia and Kyrgyzstan.

The event is part of the ODIHR's support to Ukraine's authorities and civil society in raising awareness and developing the expertise of local stakeholders to promote equality of rights and opportunities among women and men, and to combat domestic violence.