Gender aspects of border and security management in focus of OSCE online meeting in Turkmenistan

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online roundtable discussion on gender mainstreaming in border and security management from 3 to 5 August 2020. The event brought together representatives of the State Border, Customs and Migration Services of Turkmenistan, and was held as part of an extra-budgetary project on strengthening the capacities of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan. The roundtable aimed to acquaint participants with best international practices in promoting gender aspects in law enforcement activities.

Opening the event, Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, said: “In support of and alignment with the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Gender Equality, the Centre regularly organizes events to provide an effective platform for the exchange of experiences on integrating a gender perspective in border management and other law enforcement bodies.”

“Considering a multi-stakeholder approach to this National Action Plan, the Centre closely partners with various ministries and agencies of the host country, thereby promoting cross-sectoral gender mainstreaming. The participation of the representatives of three law enforcement agencies and national experts from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy and the Women's Union at this event is an example of multi-stakeholders’ involvement in gender mainstreaming.”

OSCE and international experts on gender, as well as national experts, facilitated the event. OSCE experts from the Secretariat, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Border Management Staff College presented the Organization’s Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and its integration into border management, international conventions relevant to gender mainstreaming as well as practical examples of a gender-sensitized approach in border security education.

International experts discussed global trends in border management and organizational, structural and cultural levels of integrating a gender perspective in border management as well as a gender-sensitive employment policy in the security sector.

National experts acquainted the participants with the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Gender Equality, relevant national legislation, and the main priorities of the national employment policy pertaining to women.

The training was organized with financial support of the Government of Germany.