OSCE Centre in Astana supports discussion on equal rights and opportunities for women

ASTANA, 26 May 2011 – About 100 high-level government officials, parliamentary deputies and representatives of non-governmental and international organizations today discussed Kazakhstan's efforts to eliminate discrimination against women during a meeting co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Participants discussed a draft periodic report on Kazakhstan's implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The round–table meeting focused on changes and successes during the reporting period, as well as obstacles to protect and promote women's rights in Kazakhstan.

“Civil society and government agencies should continue to strengthen their partnerships through the sharing of information on facts, progress and needs. Broader participation is key to ensuring women’s rights in practice and to prevent discrimination, domestic violence and trafficking,” said Jeannette Kloetzer, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Gulshara Abdykalykova, Minister of Labour and Social Protection and Chair of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy added:

“Significant efforts to implement the CEDAW Convention have been made, in particular the adoption of laws on gender equality and domestic violence. The government is now developing an action plan to increase women’s representation at the decision-making level.”

The OSCE Centre in Astana organized the meeting together with the United Nations Women, the National Commission on Women and Family-Demographic Policy and the Parliament of Kazakhstan.