OSCE Mission to Moldova holds roundtable discussion on gender equality in politics and the economy

CHISINAU, 9 September 2010 - How politics and economic growth benefit from greater participation by women, including in times of economic crisis, was the focus of a roundtable discussion held by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Chisinau today.

"Moldova could gain substantively from using the economic and political potential of its entire population, especially in times of economic crisis," said Ambassador Philip Remler, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. "The financial crisis has hit people very hard - including women. We hope that today's recommendations will help political and economic leaders take advantage of women's potential for the benefit of Moldova."

Experts from Austria, Belarus, Moldova, Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine shared best practices and lessons learned on how political leaders and the electorate can benefit from a focus on women's role in political and economic life. The discussions highlighted the contribution of gender equality to economic growth, the impact of quota and non-quota mechanisms, the key role of women leaders and associations in promoting women's participation in politics, and how the media can have a greater impact by promoting women.

A large number of participants, including Members of Parliament and government officials, female political and business leaders and representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, media and international organizations attended the event. The roundtable discussion resulted in recommendations to help Moldovan leaders and civil society better strive for gender equality in the political and economic fields.

The event was part of the OSCE Mission to Moldova's Anti-Trafficking and Gender Programme.