OSCE Centre supports public hearing on Tajikistan's gender equality law

DUSHANBE, 7 December 2007 - The OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, in cooperation with the parliamentary committee on social, women and ecological issues, held a public hearing today to discuss the implementation of the Tajikistan's gender equality law.

Members of the Parliament as well as civil society representatives took part in the discussion on the Law on State Guarantees on Equality between Men and Women and Equal Opportunities for their Implementation, which was adopted in 2005. The hearing resulted in concrete proposals for the improvement of its implementation mechanisms that will be submitted to the Parliament.

"The OSCE recognizes that gender equality and the advancement of women represent two of the most important conditions for development, security and stability in the OSCE region, and in the world in general," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, addressing the participants.

Graziella Piga, Manager of the Gender and Anti-trafficking Programme at the OSCE Centre, said: "This forum provides and distinctive opportunity for discussing the implementation of the gender equality law and its improvement. The presence of civil society representatives represents a significant contribution to the important work of both the Government and the Parliament."

The event is part of the Centre's efforts to improve gender equality mechanisms through capacity building of the Members of the Parliament and is implemented in cooperation with the parliamentary committee on social, women and ecological issues.