News and press releases

In collaboration with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the OSCE Secretariat Gender Issues Programme organized a two-day regional meeting in Tashkent on 20-21 June 2023. The meeting enhanced networking and capacity building among Women's Resource Centres and civil society organizations in Central Asia, with a focus on combating gender-based violence.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro continues in its support of the SOS Helpline Nikšić as it develops microgreens farming as an occupational therapy for the women survivors of gender-based violence. In May and June, the Mission provided microgreens equipment and supplies as well as expertise in developing a Handbook for Microgreens Cultivation. This will be followed by trainings for survivors and NGO staff.

Going beyond figures for gender equality in the parliament. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Kilian Wahl, and Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi opened the regional conference “Parliaments advance gender equality”, marking the 20th anniversary of the Parliamentary Women’s Club. The

OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, Lara Scarpitta concluded her visit to Uzbekistan, following three days of intensive discussions and field visits organized with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Improvements in prevention, law enforcement, prosecution and judicial review of sexual violence cases in times of war were the focus of discussions among more than 150 legal professionals, officials and civil society organisations during the of the 4th Forum of Women Lawyers held on 16 June.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a study visit to Barcelona, Spain for six representatives of the Union of Women Judges of the Republic of Tajikistan on 13-15 June 2023. The Tajik officials learned from their Spanish counterparts the best practices of improving women and girls' access to justice, increasing gender sensitivity in cases of violence against girls and women, eliminating gender stereotypes in judicial proceedings and protecting child rights.

The first two groups of operators and dispatchers of Ukraine’s National Police emergency “102” hotline have strengthened their knowledge and skills in effective communication with children during a series of two-day trainings organized by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine in Uzhhorod from 6 to 9 June 2023.