COPENHAGEN, 19 May 2021 – An event today organized by the OSCE PA, the OSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme explored innovative legislative approaches to prevent and combat violence against women. More than a hundred participants registered for the event, with half of them Members of Parliament. OSCE parliamentarians were joined by OSCE delegates from participating States and Partners for Co-operation for an exchange of good practices and lessons learned.

In opening remarks, OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry (Canada) talked about the tools available for combating gender-based violence, one of which is using data to inform legislation and policymaking. Before making legislation, she stressed, it is important to meet with civil society to learn about women’s lived experiences, in order to ensure effective policy changes.

Also addressing the event were OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid and ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. Experts from the OSCE Secretariat and ODIHR presented OSCE tools and resources, including ODIHR’s support to lawmaking processes and developing legal reviews of legislation on violence against women, and the OSCE Secretariat’s guide on How to Use Survey Data to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Girls.

Participants recalled that OSCE participating States are committed to preventing violence against women and girls, with Ministerial Council Decisions adopted in 2005, 2014 and 2018 that call on participating States to improve national legislation, policies and practices in this regard.