Gender in economic and environmental security

Economic empowerment of women is essential to achieve gender equality, inclusive social development, prosperity and stability. The OSCE is committed to promoting equal opportunities for women and men in the economic sphere.

The OSCE Programme for Gender Issues supports field operations in assisting women entrepreneurs to access resources and build networks and in providing training and legal advice on how to open and run a business.

It works with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) on initiatives to promote women’ skills in a wide array of sectors from water diplomacy and access to green technologies to social economy. It ensures that a gender perspective is reflected in the OSCE’s work to combat corruption. 

Environmental security can mean different things to women and men, especially in developing societies where it is the women who gather firewood and carry water. Environmental degradation and natural disasters are sources of potential and actual conflicts. Impacted women and men need to be involved in dealing with such threats.

In co-operation with the OCEEA, the Programme for Gender Issues has supported the empowerment of female water professionals in Central Asia. It has assisted in developing guidance for mainstreaming gender in the implementation of the Aarhus Convention on public participation in environmental decision-making.