Democratization: Gender Equality The ODIHR has been conducting a long-term programme aimed at increasing women’s participation in democratic processes. To achieve this goal, the ODIHR carries out specific activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of national stakeholders, from governments and civil society, in the South Caucasus and Central Asia to: (a) Increase awareness of the importance of equality of rights and opportunities among women and men; and (b) To develop and implement effective polices for the promotion of gender equality. The overall strategy is to develop mechanisms of interaction between the public and governments and to strengthen the capacity of grassroots actors to oversee and monitor the democratic performance of their governments. In 2005, the ODIHR conducted activities in the following areas: k Fostering co-operation among governments and civil society to promote gender equality; k Women’s leadership development, coalitionbuilding, and networking; k Preventing and combating domestic violence; k Development of national expertise on gender equality. I. Fostering co-operation among governments and civil society to promote gender equality In order to build co-operation between civil society and government, the ODIHR promotes the creation of networks and mechanisms to increase the participation of women in policymaking processes at both national and grassroots levels. Joint initiatives between governments and civil society have been developed, including the fostering of policy dialogue on measures to improve the level of women’s empowerment and political participation. In Kyrgyzstan, for example, not a single female candidate was elected to the national legislature in parliamentary elections held in early 2005. ANNUAL REPORT 2005 OSCE/CURTIS BUDDEN Activities But in the wake of political changes occurring shortly thereafter, the Women’s Network established by the ODIHR used the opportunity to work with the new president for the establishment of a special representative to parliament on gender equality. The ODIHR continues to provide guidance and expertise to the Network and the special representative to ensure the inclusion of gender perspectives in legislation and to identify a common platform for action on reforms. In the framework of the ongoing constitutional reforms in Kyrgyzstan, the Network has been lobbying for inclusion of the principle of equality between women and men as one of the basic tenets of the constitution. In Georgia, the Coalition of Women’s NGOs supported by the ODIHR was able to mobilize the government to address gender equality in a comprehensive manner, through its commitment to establish institutional mechanisms for gender equality at the state level. The ODIHR provided expertise to the Coalition in its work to establish a High-Level Governmental Commission for Gender Equality under the Office of the Prime Minister with the mandate to elaborate a national action plan on gender equality. Based on a strategy developed jointly with the ODIHR, this Commission brings together high- Charita Jashi, a member of the Georgian Women’s NGO Coalition, at a meeting in Tbilisi, 2 November. The Coalition has been working to mobilize the Georgian government to address gender equality in a comprehensive manner. 35