Political will necessary to increase number of women in leadership, says Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania

TIRANA, 11 February 2013 – Ways to empower Albanian female politicians to run for leadership positions in the 2013 parliamentary elections is the main objective of a two-day event organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) that started today in Tirana.

“The number of women holding political leadership functions still remains low. The 2012 amendments to the Electoral Code could increase the chances of women to be elected,” stressed the Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, adding that “political will is needed for this, but is often missing”.

He said that enhancing women’s participation in public and political life in Albania is a long-term goal of the OSCE Presence.

The event brings together women parliamentarians, mayors and other activists representing various political parties. They will learn the skills to effectively assert themselves in government structures as public representatives, campaigning, outreach, communication and gender-sensitive approaches.