A Summary of OSCE Action Plan for Gender Issues
prepared by Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with 55 member states from Europe, Central Asia, and North America, is active in preventing and resolving conflicts worldwide. The organization takes a comprehensive approach to security by addressing arms control, preventive diplomacy, human rights, democratization, election monitoring, and economic and environmental security.

In 2000, the OSCE approved a detailed action plan on gender issues. The plan acknowledges the critical role women play in ensuring security and sustainable democracy and calls for greater gender equity within all OSCE institutions and field missions.

A central part of the plan is the inclusion of women at all levels of the OSCE administration and in visible positions of leadership. Regular reports on the plan’s progress will include gender-specific statistics within the organization and data on the percentage of women in leadership roles.

Training on human rights, gender sensitivity, and non-discrimination is a prominent aspect of the action plan and will involve all new mission staff, senior staff, human rights workers, police monitors, and officers. The action plan urges all OSCE member states to take similar initiatives—specifically, measures to ensure gender equality. The OSCE will monitor member states’ compliance and encourage cooperation with other organizations to share information and best practices.

The action plan also mandates that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights take into account a gender perspective in all of its work. Specific action areas include increasing women’s access to public and political life, enabling active participation of women in conflict resolution and management, and preventing gender-related violence in conflict and post-conflict situations.

return to top