Gender Equality The OSCE recognizes that full and true equality be- ucation as men do. Moreover, many government struc- tween women and men is essential to achieving securi- tures are not effective in protecting and promoting ty, prosperity, and sustainable democracy. In this re- women’s rights. spect, the ODIHR promotes equality in political and economic life not just as an instrument to combat dis-
Political and economic participation: The goal crimination but also as a means for ensuring democra- of giving women a greater role in the decision-making cy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. process is of particular importance. Due to a number of factors, women’s representation in the economic and Over the past decade, the world has seen much political arena has declined in a number of countries progress in setting standards and passing laws regard- over the past decade. This situation excludes the effec- ing equality between the sexes. While the importance tive pursuit of women’s concerns in the political agen- of these advances should not be overlooked, the de da and transition process. facto status of women throughout the OSCE region has not sufficiently improved to the point of achieving par-
Empowerment of young people: Attitudes to- ity with men. In fact, the gap between legal equality wards women’s role in society are less conditioned and actual equality is widening in a number of regards. among young people, and those attitudes are therefore more likely to change. The development of information This has been felt most acutely in so-called transition on women’s rights, especially in key professions, such as countries, where an overall decline in the status of teachers, is an important factor for transforming atti- women is compounded by conditions in which political tudes and a resource for gender activities. participation by women is negatively affected, economic conditions are deteriorating, unemployment is
Sharing responsibility for change: Transforma- growing, and an increasingly larger proportion of the tion of culturally conditioned perceptions of the role of population is living below the poverty line. women can be achieved only by developing a coalition of actors at all levels of society, both in urban and rural areas, working towards this objective. Effectively tackling these issues remains a challenge for the OSCE; the ODIHR’s role is to assist participating States in their efforts to diminish this gap and ensure Activities that equality between the sexes is achieved in law and in reality. While the ODIHR addresses and promotes gender issues through various means, the majority of its work in Main issues this area is conducted in the form of targeted programme activities carried out in several countries that
Women's rights: Because many people throughout ensure a personalized, tailor-made approach to each the OSCE region are not aware of their rights, they do country. Though most of the programmes have objec- not claim those rights. This is especially the case with tives identified on a year-to-year basis, all programme women, who often do not have the same access to ed- activities have been guided by the long-term overall 30