OSCE Mission to Montenegro organizes public communications training for municipal gender focal points
The Municipal Gender Focal Point Network completed a two-day training course on 10 May 2014 in Podgorica on communication skills and public speaking. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with the Human and Minority Rights Ministry’s Gender Department and ten Montenegrin municipalities, and different national partners.
Fifteen participants learned about public communication skills, with special emphasis on public speaking, media relations, writing effective press releases and replying to interviews with journalists.
"This training is of outmost importance for gender equality in Montenegro,” said Lia Magnaguagno, Head of the Democratization Programme at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. “It is at the local level where many positive changes are taking place. That is why we need inspirational speakers who can move the masses."
Mira Topović, Gender Focal Point from Pljevlja municipality, said: “The skills learned will raise my self-confidence and improve media relations in my everyday work.”
The training is a continuation of the Mission’s work in promoting gender equality through the implementation of gender equality legislation, with a special focus on the municipal level. Mission’s activities include: adoption and promotion of Local Action Plans for Gender Equality, economic empowerment of less represented gender, training on the women’s participation in public and political life, health workshops, capacity building for the municipal staff, enabling equal chances for women from rural areas and youth engagement.