OSCE-sponsored gender equality project enters second phase

SKOPJE, 25 May 2006 - The second phase of an OSCE-sponsored project to promote gender equality at the local level began today in Skopje.

"Increasing women's participation in decision-making processes at the local level is a cornerstone in any harmonically functioning community," said Ambassador Natalya Drozd, Deputy Head of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.

"We are pleased to see that a strong partnership focusing on this issue begins to develop between the central and local government level and civil society," she said. "These activities are fully consistent with the OSCE's Gender Action Plan."

The project forms part of a multi-phase initiative of the non-governmental organizations network, Union of Women's Organizations, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The initiative supports the implementation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality, adopted in 1999.

At the launch of the second project phase, the members of ten existing local Gender Equality Commissions (GEC) and the mayors of the local communities will explain the benefits of the initiative and share best practices with the members of five newly-created GECs.

The project is funded by the OSCE Mission and the United States Government.