OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO REPORT ON

UNCLAS STATE 099058 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO REPORT ON GENDER ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ¶1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the September 24, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna: Begin text: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. The United States joins other delegations in expressing appreciation for this very thorough report. We welcome efforts to make gender issues a priority in all three OSCE dimensions, particularly in the politico-military and economic and environmental dimensions, and hope to see further work in this area. The incorporation of gender concerns into police work is an outstanding example of OSCE field missions, progress in mainstreaming gender issues, and should be replicated wherever possible. We commend the development of tools and methodologies to help OSCE participating States implement their commitments on gender equality, and hope this work will continue. The publication of best practices guides on gender-sensitive labor migration policies and efforts to combat violence against women are just two examples of the excellent initiatives undertaken in the last year. We also commend the small but steady increase in the proportion of women in management and professional positions, and hope to see continued improvement in the representation of women in OSCE field missions and institutions. While we recognize progress, Madam Chairwoman, we believe more can be done. We hope to see additional work to boost the participation of women in conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts. We also urge participating States to nominate more female candidates for top OSCE management and professional positions. We must work to ensure continued efforts to promote equality between women and men across the OSCE region, and make a more concerted effort to prevent violence and discrimination against women. As Secretary Clinton said when commemorating International Women,s Day in March, &We must remind ourselves that ensuring the rights of women... is not only a matter of justice. It is a matter of enhancing global peace, progress, and prosperity for generations to come.8 Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. CLINTON