White Ribbon Ceremony honours men’s engagement in promoting gender equality in OSCE activities

VIENNA, 1 December 2016 – Four male senior officials were presented today with a commemorative white ribbon by the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, honouring their work in promoting gender equality both in the OSCE’s activities and across the region.

In a ceremony at the Hofburg in Vienna, Zannier awarded the white ribbons to Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ambassador Andrej Benedejčič, Head of Slovenia’s Representation to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE MenEngage Network; Ambassador Clemens Koja, the Head of Austria’s Mission to the OSCE and the incoming Chair of the Permanent Council; and Colonel Hans Lampalzer, the Head of the OSCE High-Level Planning Group.

“I am happy to award the White Ribbon to four male champions on gender equality, who have demonstrated their commitment to the issue not only in words but also in concrete actions in the last year,” said Zannier, as he presented the ribbons. “Ambassador Apakan has been unremitting in emphasizing that women have to be included in all stages of peace processes, Ambassador Benedejčič has been highlighting how men need to be part of the solution in achieving gender equality, Ambassador Koja has been putting gender equality high on the agenda of next year’s Austrian OSCE Chairmanship, and Colonel Lampalzer has been integrating a gender perspective into the design of peace-keeping efforts. Their work demonstrates that men and women, boys and girls are all allies in the efforts to achieving equal rights of all.”

The ribbons are the emblem of the global White Ribbon campaign, which is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls and to promote gender equality. Wearing a white ribbon is a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.

The event took place as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. The campaign started on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November and runs through to 10 December, which is the International Human Rights Day. Follow the campaign on the OSCE’s website or on its social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.