OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organizes roundtable discussion to discuss national and international commitments to gender equality

A roundtable discussion on national and international commitments on gender equality took place in Dushanbe on 13 December 2017. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and attended by representatives of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan and 35 participants from political parties and civil society, including national gender experts and young adult gender champions.

The purpose of the roundtable discussion was to raise awareness about the existing commitments of the country towards reaching gender equality, to discuss the implementation of the laws, and to provide recommendations on what needs to be done in the future.

Javohir Akobirova, Head of the Department for Gender Development and International Affairs of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs, presented a review of the existing national gender mainstreaming framework of Tajikistan.

“In Tajikistan, there is a comprehensive approach to gender equality, evident in laws, in national strategies, and in national gender action plans, but there is a need to continue working with the general population towards increasing their understanding on gender equality at home as well as at work. The persistence of gender roles can impede the advancement of women despite national efforts to reach gender equality and gender parity,” said Vesna Ivanovikj-Castarede, Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer at the OSCE Programme Office. “We have very good co-operation with national stakeholders and today’s roundtable is one more joint step towards reaching our shared goal, which is equality for women and men in all spheres and throughout the country.”