OSCE urges more participation for women

TIRANA, Dec. 7 – The Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe held a regional meeting in southern Gjirokastra on “Increasing Women’s Capacity to Network.”
That was part of the multi year project Enhancing Women’s Role in Governance funded by Sweden and the Netherlands and implemented by the OSCE Presence in Albania.
That was the fourth in a series of forums that began in 2009 and that are being implemented all over the country.
OSCE Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth said they aimed to bring together women leaders from local government, civil society, political parties, existing women networks, aiming to increase women’s capacities to network and encourage exchange at local level; to advocate for broader participation of women in political and public life.
The ambassador commended the government for the strong commitment in supporting the full and active participation of women in public and political life.
Greater gender equality is vital to achieving security, prosperity, and full democratic standards and hence to security and stability in the OSCE area, he said.
“The OSCE sees the promotion of gender equality a top priority; starting with the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act when participating States committed themselves to respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without any distinction based on gender.”
He said that political parties have a key role to play in establishing and maintaining a conducive environment in which a fairer political representation of women in representational institutions can be assured.
The equal representation of women and men in politics is a key parameter of any modern democracy.
Wollfarth said that with May 2011 local government elections, that would be an excellent chance to see whether Albania is serious about dealing with the issue of gender inequality.
the percentage of women local councilors needs to rise from the current lowly base of 10%, he said, as the Electoral Code stipulates that one out of three candidates on all election lists, provided by the political parties, must be a woman.
He urged all political parties to adhere to this legal stipulation.
He considered encouraging the public commitments made so far from all sides but said that “we now need to see whether these fine words are translated into fine actions.”
“If Albania is serious about its integration aspirations, simply excusing such behavior as being part of the ‘Albanian culture’ will no longer be good enough.”