OSCE Office in Tajikistan, ODIHR conclude process of preparing gender action plans for political parties

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan in co-operation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 29 March 2016 in Dushanbe organized a roundtable discussion with women politicians from all seven of the country’s registered political parties on the importance and relevance of gender action plans and gender budgeting.

The event concludes the process of putting together the political parties’ gender action plans, which were drafted with the help of the Office in Tajikistan throughout 2015 and early 2016. The leadership of each political party was proactively and directly involved in the process of submitting gender action plans.

“The OSCE has a long history of addressing various discriminatory issues concerning the advancement of women,” said Vesna Ivanovikj-Castarede, Legal and Electoral Reform Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. “The empowerment of women in political life is one of the top priorities for the OSCE Office.”

Komila Rakhimova, ODIHR Gender Advisor, said: “Political parties can play a crucial role in providing women with equal opportunities to participate in the political life of their country. By reviewing and amending internal party procedures and practices, such as the candidate selection process, the distribution of party resources and access to decision-making posts, gender action plans help to institutionalize gender equality and facilitate women’s empowerment within a political party.”

The event was organized as part of the “Women’s Political Empowerment” programme of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.