VIENNA, 27 October 2022 - OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry (Canada) held the inaugural meeting of the OSCE PA Women's Network today, bringing together a diverse group of parliamentarians for the first of a series of discussions on gender equality and gender diversity in the OSCE region.

Opening the event, Dr. Fry outlined the role and the purpose of establishing the Women’s Network, noting: “It has become evident that there is a need for better interaction and sharing of best practices among women parliamentarians in the OSCE PA. I think it will strengthen the focus and outcomes of gender equality measures. I look forward to the contribution that this network will bring, in raising gender awareness across the OSCE PA and other OSCE bodies.”

Through informal interactions among parliamentarians, the Women’s Network aims to identify areas where gender progress has been made, along with the key obstacles preventing the more fulsome realization of gender equality in the OSCE region, as well as within the OSCE PA and other OSCE structures.

OSCE PA President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) welcomed the initiative and encouraged active participation of both women and men parliamentarians in identifying gender issues and working together to advance gender equality in the OSCE region.

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella also addressed the online meeting, commending the work of Special Representative Fry in mainstreaming gender issues in the OSCE and welcoming the Women's Network as an important step towards achieving greater gender equality not only within the Assembly, but also in the OSCE region as a whole.

During the discussion, parliamentarians engaged in informal discussions of current gender-related issues in their countries and the OSCE region and exchanged ideas and best practices aimed at improving gender equality in the OSCE region.

The Women’s Network will continue its activity by meeting several times per year and supporting the mandate of the OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues.

For more information on the work of the OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, please click here.