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Vienna workshop highlights role of parliamentary bodies in advancing women’s interests

11 December 2012
ODIHR presented its draft study, “Strengthening Parliamentary Structures for Women MPs in the OSCE Region” at a workshop in Vienna on 10-11 December 2012. (OSCE/Curtis Budden) Photo details

Good practices for parliamentary bodies in promoting gender equality and advancing women’s interests in national legislatures were the focus of a workshop held in Vienna by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), with the support of the Austrian Parliament and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on 10 and 11 December 2012.

More than 45 parliamentarians, experts and representatives of civil society from the OSCE region and Tunisia, an OSCE Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation, highlighted different types of parliamentary bodies for women MPs, including caucuses and research groups, and how they can advance women’s interests more effectively and efficiently.

“Parliamentary structures for women MPs can serve as important forums to lobby for greater gender equality, to promote solidarity and, often, to influence political agendas,” said Manana Kobakhidze, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia.

During the workshop, ODIHR presented its draft study – “Strengthening Parliamentary Structures for Women MPs in the OSCE Region” – which provides an overview of different types of parliamentary structures in existence in national parliaments.

“The study indicates that parliamentary structures vary widely in design, structure, activities and degrees of formality,” said Kristin van der Leest, ODIHR Gender Adviser. “Some structures, such as cross-party women’s caucuses, are recognized as important forums for representing women’s interests across political party lines, while others aim to influence legislative agendas.”

The good practices noted at the workshop will be included in the final version of the study, she added.

Following the workshop, participants met with Barbara Prammer, the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament and representatives of its Committee for Gender Equality, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, to share their experiences in advancing women’s interests in national legislatures.