HANDBOOK FOR NHRIs ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Handbook was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on the basis of research done and drafts by Pearl Eliadis, a lawyer who has worked extensively with national human rights institutions at the international level for almost two decades. The Handbook would not have been possible without the information provided by national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from across the OSCE region. Their commitment has been demonstrated through their daily hard work and genuine desire to continuously improve the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality. ODIHR would like to thank all participating NHRIs for sharing their invaluable experiences and ideas, which form the very basis of this Handbook. ODIHR is also grateful to all those who generously contributed their time to reviewing this Handbook, particularly colleagues from the Swedish Equality Ombudsman; the United Nations Development Programme, Europe and the CIS, Bratislava Regional Centre; and the UN Women, Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ODIHR also appreciates the advice and guidance received from June Zeitlin, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairin-Office on Gender Issues. Special gratitude is extended to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan for hosting the International Expert Workshops on NHRIs and Gender Equality, held in Prague in March 2011 and in Almaty in June 2012, respectively.