OSCE Centre fosters women’s participation in political life in Kyrgyzstan

A four-day OSCE-supported train-the-trainers event on women’s leadership and political party participation is taking place in Issyk-Kul province, Kyrgyzstan, from 21 to 24 May. It begins with a one-day training session for the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and is followed by a three-day intensive course for representatives of eight major political parties.

The training seminars are organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “Kyrgyzstan has already marked progress in promoting women’s participation in political life. This achievement should be sustained. These training sessions are to help women activists acquire new skills and experience increasing their influence within political parties in decision making-processes and being promoted to leadership positions.”

The courses will be delivered by two international trainers – Rachel Weston, a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, and Allida Black, the programme manager of the Women’s Participation Programme at NDI Headquarters in Washington DC.

The training seminars are part of an OSCE-supported project to promote women’s participation in political parties and elected bodies.