OSCE organizes leadership summer school for young women from both banks of Dniester/Nistru river

CHISINAU, 6 August 2012 – Having women in leadership positions is key to women’s empowerment and a precondition for any country’s prosperity, said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Jennifer Brush, today as she inaugurated the 2012 Summer School of Leadership for young women in Vadul Lui Voda.

“The future of women is the future of Moldova,” said Brush addressing participants. ”Successful women are essential to achieving prosperity, stability and security in this region,”

For one week, 50 young women from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru will be trained by successful, high-profile Moldovan and international women from various professional fields, including Marie Moser, wife of the US Ambassador to Moldova and Silvia Radu, President of Red Union Fenosa.

Lectures and workshops will focus on different aspects of leadership including management skills, self-confidence and self-esteem, educational and job opportunities, skills needed to enter the labour market, and the basics of starting a business.

The Summer School of Leadership also aims to raise awareness among young women about gender inequalities, gender discrimination, domestic violence, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation on the Internet.

It is organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the non-governmental organization Winrock Moldova and aims to empower young women from rural areas as well as build and strengthen relations between young women from both sides of the Dniestr/Nistru river.

The Summer School has been an annual event since 2008, and to date around 200 young women have participated. The OSCE Mission to Moldova is involved in a wide range of activities in combating human trafficking and domestic violence.