Secretariat

Gender Issues Programme

The OSCE recognizes that equal rights for women and men, and the protection of their human rights, are vital for peace, democracy, and development — and therefore for lasting security and stability. Gender equality is actively promoted across all OSCE activities and within the Organization itself.

Factsheet

20th Anniversary of the 2004 OSCE Gender Action Plan

5 December 2024

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Quick links

Gender equality Review Conferences Learning and training

Gender equality at the OSCE

Promoting gender equality is a cornerstone of the OSCE’s work. We strive to ensure that everyone—women and men alike—can participate fully in society: at home, in public life, in politics and the military, in the economy, in environmental issues, and in all areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Gender equality is not an add-on but an integral part of all OSCE activities and structures.

Supporting the OSCE participating States

Because gender equality and security are inseparably linked, the OSCE’s Programme for Gender Issues, in the Office of the Secretary General, helps participating States uphold their commitments in the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions. This includes promoting women’s full and equal participation in peace and security governance, addressing the disproportionate violence women face both in and out of conflict, and encouraging women’s economic empowerment and independence.

Women, peace and security

The OSCE supports the international efforts to fully engage women in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Combating gender-based violence

The OSCE works to prevent and combat violence against women, improve their protection, and provide services for survivors of violence.

Gender equality in economic and environmental activities

Supporting women in economic and environmental matters

Leading the way

In 2004, the OSCE has adopted its Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, strengthening its committment to advancing gender equality across its structures, activities and programmes. The team working for the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme provides guidance and expertise to ensure a gender-sensitive approach in all areas of work, while fostering an inclusive and non-discriminatory workplace.

Gender equality

Equal rights and opportunities for everyone

Gender equality within the OSCE

Making gender equality a reality in the OSCE

Related projects funded through voluntary contributions

EU Project
OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women

Project

WIN for Women and Men. Strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality

At the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, we pledged to improve gender equality by taking action on Gender Based Violence, Economic Justice and Rights and Technology & Innovation. The OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN Project is a powerful instrument to deliver on these actions and more.

Current announcements, press releases, media advisories and other updates

News Item

OSCE provides platform for dialogue to strengthen Ukraine’s response to illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives

26 November 2025 Ukraine

Press release

OSCE leaders call to step up efforts to prevent violence against women and girls as 16 Days of Activism campaign kicks off

25 November 2025

News Item

Confiscated assets as tools for social good: OSCE hosts regional workshop in Almaty

24 November 2025

News Item

OSCE training empowers young experts from Central Asia, South-East Europe and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation regions in inclusive project design and digital research

18 November 2025

The Senior Adviser on Gender Issues

Lara Scarpitta

OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues

Official OSCE documents, publications and other manually selected resources

Factsheet

Factsheet: Gender equality

13 January 2020

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Decision / declaration

Ministerial Council Decision No. 14/04 - 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality

7 December 2004

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Reports evaluating progress on gender mainstreaming in OSCE structures and the working environment

Annual report

2024 Annual Progress Report On the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality

This 2024 Annual Progress Report highlights OSCE’s progress on the Implementation of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and key successes achieved in advancing equality and the empowerment of women. The report explores OSCE’s work in this area as well as the support the OSCE executive structures provide to participating States in promoting gender equality.

17 September 2025

Report

2023 Annual Progress Report On the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality

This 2023 Annual Progress Report highlights OSCE’s progress on the Implementation of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and key successes achieved in advancing equality and the empowerment of women. The report explores OSCE’s work in this area as well as the support the OSCE executive structures provide to participating States in promoting gender equality.

11 July 2024

Report

2022 Annual Progress Report: On the implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan on the Promotion of Gender Equality

This 2022 Annual Progress Report highlights OSCE’s progress on the Implementation of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and key successes achieved in advancing equality and the empowerment of women. The report explores OSCE’s work in this area as well as the support the OSCE executive structures provide to participating States in promoting gender equality.

13 July 2023

Annual report

Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the OSCE 2004 Action Plan on the Promotion of Gender Equality – 2021

The Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality highlights the main achievements of the Organization regarding gender parity, capacity of staff, organizational culture and overall gender mainstreaming improvements within the organization. The report includes information about the support the OSCE executive structures provide to participating States in promoting gender equality.

21 July 2022

The OSCE offers courses and learning resources to support practitioners and other interested audiences in the OSCE participating States.

Learning and training

Subscribe to the Gender Equality Newsletter to keep well-informed of the latest activities to promote gender equality in the OSCE.

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Gender Section, OSCE Secretariat

OSCE Secretariat

Gender Section

Wallnerstrasse 6
A-1010 Vienna
Austria

Email: equality@osce.org

Phone: +43 1 514 36 6927

Read up on the OSCE, our people on the ground and our work

Story

If they don’t hire me, I’ll do It myself: women building businesses and changing communities in Kyrgyzstan

19 November 2025 OSCE Secretariat

Story

50 OSCE Scholarship graduates ready to lead next generation of peace and security experts

18 November 2025 OSCE Secretariat

Gender Issues Programme

20th Anniversary of the 2004 OSCE Gender Action Plan

Quick links