OSCE Mission to Moldova promotes role of men in securing women's rights

CHISINAU, 7 December 2010 - The OSCE Mission to Moldova will conduct a one-day roundtable meeting "Men against Violence, Women for Peace" on the role of men and boys in promoting gender equality and greater inclusion of women in peace-building work. 

The roundtable meeting, held to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, will focus on how men and boys can best campaign against violence against women and promote the role of women in conflict situations. Participants will examine international best practices, legal means available to prevent gender-based discrimination, and new Moldovan legislation addressing domestic violence.

Government officials, lawmakers and representatives of international organizations and civil society are invited to the meeting, at which international experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Romania and the U.S. will share their experience in promoting inclusion of women in conflict prevention and resolution and their recruitment into the security sector.

The roundtable marks the end of the 16-day Campaign against Gender-Based Violence, which started on 25 November. The OSCE Mission to Moldova has supported the Campaign through country-wide activities, including a mobile exhibition, participation in television talk shows, holding youth competitions, distributing leaflets and posters, launching a dedicated Facebook webpage, conducting university lectures and roundtable meetings on international and domestic law and practice, and staging a performance of the play Casa M, based on real-life stories of Moldovan victims of gender-based violence.

Journalists are invited to the opening of the roundtable meeting. Men against Violence, Women for Peace will take place on 10 December at 09:00 a.m. at the Codru Hotel, Pink Hall, Str. 31 August 1989, in Chisinau.