Skopje, 23 June 2023 (MIA) - The average representation of women in parliament in the entire OSCE region is 29.6 percent. In North Macedonia it is above the average, which is impressive, and there are 42.5 percent women in parliament, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Kilian Wahl, told Friday's regional conference "Parliaments advance gender equality", marking the 20th anniversary of the Parliamentary Women’s Club and organized in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje. 

He mentioned the challenges women politicians face during elections and their underrepresentation in certain positions before and after elections, noting that the country will be able to address these challenges by implementing the new law on gender equality.

"The OSCE remains your partner in achieving gender equality, but we only have a supporting role. Your commitment as women parliamentarians is crucial to further success of these commitments and your work is essential to achieving women's human rights, which are an essential part of the security and prosperity of our society," Wahl said. 

Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi pointed out that the country has established a solid framework for promoting gender equality in public and political life, and in the area of ​​all important international policies on gender issues, including the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the UN Beijing Platform for Action, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the Istanbul Convention on Combating Violence against Women.

"There is a will to implement reforms aimed at strengthening parliamentary democracy and promoting gender sensitivity. This is also confirmed by the ODIHR, which recognizes the actual commitments and significant achievements in ensuring gender equality both in law and in practice, in order to strengthen the legal basis," Xhaferi said. 

He noted that significant legal amendments have been adopted towards improvement, protection, promotion and appreciation of the status and contribution of women as equal members in the social community.

"Several national strategies have been adopted that seek to cover all areas in which inequality, discrimination, exclusivity of men versus women are felt, and these efforts continue with perhaps the most important innovation, which is gender-responsive budgeting," the Parliament Speaker added. 

He pointed out that the second plan of activities for the promotion of gender sensitivity has been adopted, draft amendments to the systematization by changing the position of adviser on gender issues are made, and activities are underway towards amendments to the Parliament's Rules of Procedure. 

Photo: MIA

Фото: МИА