Democratization Participants at the Forum of Women Representatives of Local Councils in Ukraine meeting 6 June 2008 in Kyiv. in the regions outside the capital. In addition, the Coalition members launched an awarenessraising campaign to gather support for amendments to electoral and political party legislation guaranteeing equal representation for men and women, and collected the 32,000 signatures from supporters of the amendments required by Georgian law to introduce a legislative initiative. The proposed amendment would mandate at least 40 percent representation for both sexes in the parliament, and would impose fines for political parties and other actors in the electoral process for violating this principle. In Kyrgyzstan, ODIHR provided strategic advice to its main civil society partners, the Agency for Social Technologies (STA) and the Regional Women’s Network, on a media and lobbying campaign in support of increasing women’s political participation. ODIHR also supported the establishment of the Alliance for Women’s Legislative Initiatives in March 2008, bringing together women MPs, civil society leaders and political parties. As a result of the Alliance’s work, amendments to the Law on State Guarantees of Gender Equality in the Kyrgyz Republic were adopted in June 2008. In addition, following the provision of gender expertise by the Alliance members, amendments were made to the legislation on political parties and various legal acts pertaining to the system of social security. The members of the Alliance also actively participated in a media campaign conducted by the STA, beginning with public outreach activities across Kyrgyzstan on 8 March. At the end of August, the Alliance collected signatures for an appeal to the government and donor organizations for the full inclusion of gender considerations in identifying priorities for state policy in strategic areas. The appeal drew the support of more than 120 civil society organizations. In Ukraine, ODIHR continued its activities to advance the role of women in political and public life on the local level. In Kiev in June, ODIHR co-operated with the Office of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine to host the Forum of Women Representatives of Local Councils in Ukraine, with the aim of identifying best Annual Report 2008 31