Regional conference “Parliaments advance gender equality”, supported by OSCE Mission, takes place in Skopje

Going beyond figures for gender equality in the parliament. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Kilian Wahl, and Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi opened the regional conference “Parliaments advance gender equality”, marking the 20th anniversary of the Parliamentary Women’s Club.

The conference gathers representatives of Parliaments and OSCE Field Operations from South-Eastern Europe, along with representatives of international organizations, non-governmental organizations and independent experts.

In his address, Ambassador Wahl stressed the need to engage male MPs for gender mainstreaming and going beyond percentages in the efforts to advance gender equality.

“We know from research and studies that countries with higher gender equality are more successful. More prosperous. More innovative. Safer. Countries with higher gender equality enjoy a much higher standard of living and provide for a better future for their children. This is what this is all about. “It’s about people”, which is – as you know - the Motto of North Macedonia’s Chairpersonship,” said Ambassador Wahl.

Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi said that further promotion of diversity is needed in the work and the laws passed by the parliament.

"Increasing the support of fellow MPs on issues of gender and diversity is also extremely important. In doing so, I do not mean only a numerical increase, but a qualitative contribution and a concrete commitment to have a truly modern and gender-sensitive parliament according to the definition of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” he said.

“Gender equality is an important parameter for the overall democracy of a society and its performance in the protection and promotion of human rights as a whole. All of this implies awareness of the need for greater involvement and participation of women in all processes and in every social domain, which results in greater representation in every segment,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Fatmire Isaki in her address.

The OSCE Field Operations in the region traditionally support the organization of regional conferences of women MPs.

The partnership between the Mission and North Macedonia’s Parliament, specifically the Women Parliamentarians’ Club, led to various successful initiatives in the previous period, including the adoption of multi-year Gender Action Plans of the Parliament.