Democratization Dace Schlentz, an ODIHR Adviser on Migration and Freedom of Movement, presents an ODIHR report on the challenges facing women from migrant households in Tajikistan, Dushanbe, 12 September 2012. (OSCE) Gender-Mainstreaming Migration Policies The regional distribution of female migrants varies significantly within OSCE participating States. Certain OSCE participating States are not only destination countries, but also countries of origin of a significant number of female migrants. In some participating States, female migrants already make up more than half of the total migrant population. The number of women migrating into and between OSCE participating States with the sole purpose of employment has been steadily increasing. Migration not only affects the social and economic situation of migrants themselves, but also of their family members, who have been left behind in their countries of origin. In 2012, ODIHR, in co-operation with UN Women, implemented the project “Social and Economic 38 ODIHR Annual Report 2012 Integration of Women from Migrant Households in Tajikistan” to assist the national and local authorities of Tajikistan to identify a systemic solution to address the exclusion of women from migrant households who are affected by labour migration. As part of this project, ODIHR conducted an assessment of the social and economic inclusion of women from migrant households in Tajikistan. The results of the assessment were presented during the National Conference “Social and Economic Inclusion of Women from Migrant Households in Tajikistan”, which took place on 12 and 13 September in Dushanbe. During the conference, more than 65 participants from national and local governments, civil society and international organizations discussed challenges abandoned women from migrant households in Tajikistan face, due to ongoing gender-based discrimination and stereotypes, and human rights abuses. Based on the assessment and the conference recommendations, a draft action plan on direct assistance to these women was elaborated by ODIHR and submitted to the Tajik public authorities. Population Registration In those OSCE participating States that practice residency registration, burdensome registration criteria may discourage internal migration and, in effect, limit the right to freedom of movement. Using its Guidelines on Population Registration as a primary tool, ODIHR assists political decision makers, practitioners and relevant authorities in developing registration policies that protect the right to freedom of movement. In 2012, ODIHR continued to provide assistance to Kyrgyzstan’s State Registration Service in the establishment of a unified