Seventh Dialogue Academy for Young Women, co-hosted by OSCE Mission in Kosovo and OSCE Mission to Serbia, concludes in Mavrovo

The seventh OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women concluded on 16 October 2021 in Mavrovo, North Macedonia. Eighteen participants from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade attended the Academy.

The 10-day programme included intensive team-building exercises and lectures on the topics ‘dialogue, mediation and confidence building’, ‘women in politics’ and ‘strategic planning for positive impact’, delivered by international experts. Through panel discussions, participants had a chance to exchange views on women empowerment with prominent speakers, including members of the ‘Follow Us’ Initiative.

Participants had the opportunity to hear from the OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, who shared personal experiences from her career and high-level negotiation processes she has led, and reflected on her role as the first woman Secretary General of the OSCE.

In her message to the participants, Secretary General Schmid emphasized the importance of networks and mentoring in making women’s voices heard, increasing their visibility and empowering each other. As a huge believer in women’s empowerment at an early age, she highlighted that the Dialogue Academy is an excellent initiative where women can get support to be leaders of tomorrow. She also said that peace agreements are more sustainable when women are key actors, and encouraged them to get involved to increase women’s participation in these processes.

As a follow-up, participants will meet in November for an alumnae exchange visit to further develop their ideas and activities within the Dialogue Academy Alumnae Network, which now counts 160 members.

The Academy is organized annually under the auspices of the ‘Follow Us’ Initiative, supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, as part of their work to enhance women's participation in dialogue, conflict resolution and decision-making processes.

The Initiative, which includes prominent women from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština, was launched in 2012, and has been facilitated since then by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia.