Democratization: Gender Equality international levels with first-hand expertise in gender issues and knowledge of existing needs in the local context are crucial to the sustainability of the ODIHR’s programmes. The ODIHR views the development of the expertise of these local actors as fundamental to achieving a real and long-lasting impact in the field of promoting gender equality. To this end, the ODIHR created an NGO Expert Panel to develop a pool of national experts, trained to the level of their international counterparts, who combine this with first-hand knowledge of local situations and languages. This NGO Expert Panel on Gender Equality, comprising 15 civil society experts from Central Asia and the South Caucasus, works to promote women’s leadership and increased participation of women in decision-making across the region. All Panel members represent organizations that are long-standing partners of the ODIHR and are prominent civil society leaders in their own right. The Panel is a cross-regional initiative, first launched in 2004 and designed to foster development of strong and self-sustainable national expertise, ensuring that best practices in promoting women’s increased participation are effectively transferred among the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. In 2005, the ODIHR provided expertise and skills training to the Panel by organizing several strategy-development seminars and bestpractices workshops, where members elaborated joint activities for utilizing their respective experiences and lessons learned. For example, the Georgian and Azeri members of the Panel worked together on the promotion of women’s economic empowerment in Azerbaijan, while the Kyrgyz Panel members served as facilitators in the process of strengthening the regional network in Georgia. Moreover, the ODIHR organized training workshops on women’s participation in political parties in Ukraine, using the expertise of the Panel members from Kyrgyzstan. Panel members substantively contributed to the high-level meetings conducted by the UN Economic Commission of Europe on gender aspects ANNUAL REPORT 2005 in economy held in Astana and Geneva. Similar initiatives of the Expert Panel will continue in order to consolidate existing best practices and exchange of expertise between the countries. Future Priorities In order to build on current achievements and underpin its long-term engagement strategy, the ODIHR will continue to emphasize the strengthening of the national expertise necessary to promote gender equality. The following priorities have been identified for the upcoming year: k Building the capacity of national experts beyond theoretical knowledge to develop, implement, and run self-sustainable programmes promoting women’s equal participation in democratization processes; k Facilitating and supporting civil society/ government co-operation to increase the role of women in decision-making and to promote their full participation in political and public life at all levels; k Raising awareness and building the capacity of law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and civil society to address, prevent, and combat domestic violence, including through legislative measures; and k Assisting OSCE participating States in the development and implementation of national strategies for promoting gender equality. 39