Achieving gender equality has to top policymakers’ agendas, ODIHR Director Link says at meeting on 20th anniversary of Beijing Platform for Action
WARSAW, 26 May 2015 ─ Achieving women’s equal participation has to be at the top of political agendas, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said at an expert meeting in Warsaw today, held ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action.
“OSCE participating States have recognized that the equal and meaningful participation of women and men in political and public life is necessary for the effective functioning of a democratic society,” Director Link said in his opening remarks. “Achieving de facto equality needs to top the agenda of policymakers.”
Participants in the meeting “On Good Practices for Advancing Women’s Political Participation in the OSCE Region” called for increased action by participating States to promote the participation of women in political and public life. The event, attended by more than 40 leading gender experts, politicians and representatives from civil society organizations from across the OSCE region, was organized to analyze good practices, shortcomings and new approaches to advancing women’s political participation in the OSCE region. This includes discussions on empowering women as political party leaders and elected officials.
“Two-thirds of OSCE participating States have failed to reach the 30 per cent target of women in decision-making positions as outlined in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action,” said Meg Munn, former Member of Parliament and Minister for Women and Equality in the United Kingdom. “Twenty years on, we have to redouble our efforts and overcome the barriers women face in participating in political and public life to truly achieve a democratic society.”
Adopted at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in September 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action has served as the roadmap and central rallying point for achieving gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment over the ensuing 20 years.