OSCE concludes training seminars on gender mainstreaming in Kazakhstan

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded a series of three training seminars on gender mainstreaming for representatives of local and regional authorities on 3 December 2015 in Kyzylorda, southern Kazakhstan.

From June to December 2015, some 130 high-level officials from local and regional executive and representative bodies learned about how to apply the principles of gender mainstreaming in politics and in local self-governance in Aktau, Mangystau Region, Kokshetau, Akmola Region and Kyzylorda.

The closing event was organized in partnership with the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan and the Kyzylorda Regional Administration. Participants addressed gender-related challenges in Kazakhstan with a particular focus on gender-responsive budgeting and gender-disaggregated statistics as relatively new areas of gender equality promotion.

Topics included best practices for women’s increased legislative representation, possible gender stigma during the election process, ways to enhance public trust and improve the image of women leaders, and election strategy development and successful campaign techniques, including reaching out to the electorate by using social networks and information and communication technologies. .

National experts discussed with participants how to apply recently-adopted legislation on local self-governance with due regard to gender-mainstreaming principles, as well as ways and means to further promote good governance, transparency and accountability in rural communities and small towns.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s longstanding efforts to support Kazakhstan in implementing national legislation and policies in line with the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.