OSCE supports gender mainstreaming in Kazakhstan

Gender mainstreaming in local governments and election campaigns was the focus of an OSCE-supported training seminar for 30 high-level local government executives and local district legislators from the Zhambyl Region, held on 20 April 2018 in Taraz, Kazakhstan.

The event was organized in co-operation with the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan and the Zhambyl Regional Administration.

National experts presented ways to implement the principles of gender mainstreaming in politics and in local government management. Participants addressed gender-related challenges in Kazakhstan with a particular focus on gender-responsive budgeting and gender disaggregated statistics as relatively new areas of gender equality promotion.

The participants learned about election strategy development and successful campaign techniques, including reaching out to the electorate by using social networks and information and communication technologies. They discussed ways of enhancing public trust and improving the image of women leaders.

They were also briefed on the application of gender-mainstreaming principles aimed to promote good governance, transparency and accountability in rural communities and small towns.

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s longstanding efforts to support the host country in implementing the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.