OSCE Mission to Skopje supports gender mainstreaming in conflict prevention and resolution

SKOPJE, 9 March 2012 – The role of women in conflict prevention and peaceful conflict resolution was the topic of an OSCE-supported public event that took place in Skopje today.

It is the first of a series of Local Prevention Council meetings taking place in the municipal councils throughout the country,  organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and supported by the OSCE Mission to Skopje, to raise awareness among citizens throughout the country about UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in preventing conflicts and in the peaceful resolution of conflict situations.

The events provide a forum to discuss the importance of having women participating at the decision-making level on peace-making and peace-keeping activities.

“The OSCE Mission to Skopje supports the efforts of the country in developing and implementing a strong, workable and measurable National Action Plan on implementation of the UN resolution 1325,” said the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Natalya Drozd

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski added: “After the armed conflict in the country, women from this area initiated a strong antiwar movement and made a great contribution to peace building and improving interethnic relations, and alleviated the conflict effects on civilians, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons, most of whom were women and children. Unfortunately, often the role of women is marginalized or neglected. Women are underrepresented in the services and managerial positions in the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and peacekeeping missions.”