OSCE field operations promote women's empowerment at the OSCE/ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting

Equal economic opportunities, women’s active engagement in political and public life and combating domestic violence were the focus of a discussion held by OSCE field operations in Armenia, Moldova and Tajikistan on 28 September 2016 in Warsaw, Poland, at a side event to the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

Some twenty representatives from the three OSCE field operations and their partner civil society organizations exchanged their experience on community-led initiatives. The representatives of grassroots women’s organizations and women resource centres from Armenia, Moldova and Tajikistan shared approaches in identifying challenges and how to support women at the local level and build partnerships. They also discussed projects aimed at promoting women’s role at local and national levels, and in shaping local and state policies.

“We hope this multilateral co-operation will contribute to further progress and expand women partnerships beyond the state level,” said David Gullette, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Ruzanna Torozyan from Goris Women's Resource Centre and Nvard Khachtaryan from Meghri Women's Resource Centre, who participated at the event, spoke about the impact of the resource centres on local communities. They talked in detail about the efforts to promote women’s political participation and economic empowerment. “Involving women in various projects, enhancing their skills of creating new products, such as carpets, souvenirs, endows them with vigour and belief in their powers,” said Torozyan.

Three Women Resource Centres have been operating in the Syunik region of Armenia with the support of the OSCE Yerevan Office since 2008 and new centres have been launched in the Vayots Dzor and Tavush regions to promote initiatives encouraging women to be involved in leadership roles as well as efforts to combat domestic violence and promote women networking.