SC (05/2) 8 E Original: English SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM DRAFT RESOLUTION ON IMPROVING THE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE OSCE Principal Sponsor Tone TINGSGÅRD Sweden WASHINGTON D.C., 1 TO 5 JULY 2005

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM Improving the gender equality in the OSCE The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 1.    Recalling  the  Assembly’s  past  recommendation  on  improving  the  gender  equality within the OSCE and its recommendations to fight gender based discrimination, 2.    Recognizing the increased visibility of gender issues within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as an important step, 3.    Regretting that in spite  of the  goodwill expressed in the 2000 OSCE Gender Action Plan, very little actual progress is visible with regard to the gender equality situation within the Organization itself, 4.    Realizing  that  many  national  Delegations  to  the  OSCE  PA  still  include  very  few women and that some Delegations include no women at all, The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 5.    Welcomes  the  2004  Ministerial  Council  decision  adopting  the  new  Gender  Action Plan and insists on an immediate implementation of the provisions included; 6.    Again calls upon the OSCE Secretary General and participating States to take positive action  to  promote  the  recruitment  of  women  candidates  within  OSCE  bodies  and Institutions,  especially  at  higher  levels;  and  to  improve  the  culture  and  working atmosphere   in   the   Organization.   The   Assembly   encourages   national   OSCE   PA Delegations  to  assist  their  respective  Governments  in  identifying  qualified  female candidates; 7.    Reiterates  the  Assembly’s  recommendation  to  provide  equal  opportunities  for  men and women in the OSCE in order for the Organization to live up to its own principles; 8.    Requests  that  the  OSCE  improve  the  mainstreaming  of  the  gender  perspective  in  its reports,  resolutions  and  all  other  documents,  as  gender  neutral  often  means  gender blind.   At   the   same   time,   encourages   the   OSCE   PA   International   Secretariat   to continue its monitoring and reporting of this; 9.    Recommends that Parliamentary Delegations to the OSCE monitor the work of their Permanent  National  Delegations  in  Vienna  in  order  to  ensure  that  they  promote gender  balance  in  all  OSCE  activities  by,  for  instance,  requesting  reports  on  this matter; 10. Strongly urges parliaments in the OSCE area to take positive action in order to obtain gender balance in their national delegations to the OSCE PA;

11. Calls  upon  Heads  of  OSCE  PA  Delegations  to  take  positive  action  to  promote  the nomination  and  appointment  of  women  candidates  in  the  OSCE  PA  for  elected positions and with regard to participation in field-related activities; 12. Invites all Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to promote participation of women in politics and civil society building in their home countries, starting at their respective constituencies; 13. Encourages  the  OSCE  PA  Special  Representative  on  Gender  Issues  to  continue  the efforts to ensure that OSCE PA reports and resolutions are gender mainstreamed and that  a  gender  perspective  be  included  in  the  work  of  the  Assembly,  and  stresses  the importance of the informal network of the Special Representative on Gender Issues; 14. Welcomes the efforts of the International Secretariat to promote gender equality in the OSCE  and  calls  upon  the  OSCE  PA  Secretary  General  to  continue  his  efforts  to maintain a good and equal working environment in the International Secretariat.

AMENDMENT TO SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM ON IMPROVING THE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE OSCE [Set out text of Amendment here:] Principal Sponsor: Mr/Mrs Family Name in Capital Letters Country Signature Co-sponsored by: Mr/Mrs Family Name in Capital Letters Country Signature