OSCE parliamentarians, delegations discuss evidence-based lawmaking to prevent and combat violence against women

Innovative approaches to evidence-based lawmaking to prevent and combat violence against women was the topic of an event organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on 19 May 2021.

Parliamentarians and delegates to the OSCE from participating States as well as Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation exchanged good practices, lessons learned and innovations. Experts from the OSCE Secretariat and ODIHR presented OSCE tools and resources, including ODIHR’s support to law making processes and developing legal reviews of legislation on violence against women, and the OSCE Secretariat’s guide on How to Use Survey Data to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls.

Liliana Palihovici, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender moderated the event. OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci and Canadian MP and OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry provided opening remarks. A recording of the event is available here.

OSCE participating States are committed to preventing and combating violence against women and girls and democratic lawmaking. Ministerial Council Decisions in 2005, 2014 and 2018 call on OSCE participating States to improve national legislation, policies and practices to combat violence, support women who experience violence and take measures to prevent it. The OSCE PA Resolution in 2018 calls on OSCE participating States to pass legislation consistent with international norms and standards that addresses domestic and sexual violence, harassment, including workplace harassment and abuse of authority.