OSCE supports trip of Ukrainian experts to Norway to learn about ways of ensuring equal rights of men and women, combatting gender-based violence

Representatives of Ukraine’s Interior and Social Policy Ministries and the Ukrainian Ombudsperson’s office visited Oslo from 4 to 8 November 2013 to learn about the experience of their Norwegian counterparts ensuring equality of men and women, and about the mechanisms for combating gender-based violence. The study trip was organised by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The trip participants met with representatives of Norway’s Foreign Ministry; Children, Equality and Inclusion Ministry; Justice and Public Security Ministry; Ombudsman for Children; as well as other governmental and non-governmental structures. They had an opportunity to compare the mechanisms that exist in Ukraine with the best practices applied I Norway, in order to develop measures to more effectively address the issues of gender-based violence and inequality.

“Preventing and combating gender-based violence is one of the fundamental OSCE commitments which underpins many of our project activities in Ukraine,” said Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. “Study tours like this one facilitate the exchange of experiences in responding to such incidents in the OSCE region and encourage positive practices in implementing this commitment.”

The study visit took place in the run-up to the annual world-wide campaign “16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence” to be launched on 25 November 2013.