18   DEMOCRATIZATION “ To achieve gender equality, we need to enhance co-operation in the OSCE In 2016, area, and the CIS region, in particular. We are calling for the establishment of regional made up networks of women leaders and women’s organizations to further advance women’s participation in political and public life, for the benefit of all." of all ODIHR women 43% election observers. Nadezda Shvedova, Head of the Center of Socio-political Studies of the Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies, the Russian Academy of Science Women made up 70% of participants at Democratization events in 2016. Women made up 45% of participants at Human Rights events in 2016. Legislationline, and preparing for the publication of new editions and a remodelled website in 2017. mechanisms for gender- and diversityproofing draft legislation. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND Mainstreaming Gender and GENDER Diversity in Legislative Assistance ODIHR continued its democratic In 2016, ODIHR continued its governance and gender work in line special efforts to ensure that gender with the OSCE commitments and is systematically mainstreamed the current challenges facing demothroughout its legislative assistance cratic systems, including the general work. Building on measures decline in traditional forms of political introduced in 2015, a “quick gender participation and low levels of trust in checklist for legal reviews” was democratic institutions. In particular, developed and a mechanism was ODIHR’s work focused on increasset up to monitor how previous ing the inclusive political participation legal reviews on respective human of under-represented groups such as dimension topics have addressed women, youth and persons with disgender issues has been set up, with a abilities, and increasing the transparview to compiling this information into ency and accountability of democratic an easily accessible reference tool. made aspects up institutions. As a result, in 2016, gender were specifically addressed in 85 per Promoting good practices as cent of ODIHR’s legal reviews (as a means to enhance women’s opposed to 75 per cent in 2015, 66 per political participation cent in 2014 and 33 per cent in 2013). of participants Women continue to be underIn 2016, ODIHR also continued to at Contact Point represented in political and public life, mainstream gender and diversity in its foractivities, Roma and Sinti and in decision-making positions in democratic law making with particular, across the OSCE region. At a particular focus on events the inclusiveness in 2016. the end of 2016, women constituted of public consultation processes and 25.9 per cent of members in national parliaments in the OSCE region, a Over 60 women and mere 0.2 per cent increase from men came together at Women's Power 2015. This modest progress calls for Breakfast, held on strengthened efforts and systematic the margins of the Human Dimension measures to achieve gender parity Implementation in decision-making. ODIHR works Meeting in to advance women’s political Warsaw, to discuss reforming participation by sharing knowledge political parties to about gender-sensitive programmes support women's participation, 28 and policies in parliaments and September 2016. political parties, supporting networks (OSCE/Maria made up Kuchma) of women leaders, and facilitating the exchange of good practices for women’s engagement in democratic processes. Women 42% Women 42% of participants at the 2016 Human