OSCE senior gender officials visit Switzerland; discuss OSCE gender equality commitments and preventing domestic violence

OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Ambassador Miroslava Beham and OSCE Special Representative on Gender Issues June Zeitlin completed a three-day visit to Switzerland on 11 December 2013, where they held discussions with representatives of the Swiss government and civil society on the implementation of the Swiss Gender Equality Law and the UNSCR 1325 National Action Plan, as well as efforts to prevent domestic violence.

In meetings with the Foreign Ministry and civil society representatives, Beham said gender equality was fundamental to comprehensive security and commended Switzerland’s commitment in making it a crosscutting priority for the upcoming Swiss OSCE Chairmanship.

Zeitlin said she was encouraged by the open and constructive discussion on how Switzerland is putting its OSCE commitments on gender equality into practice. “We look forward to furthering dialogue on the issue during 2014 when Switzerland will chair the Organization.”