The United Kingdom has commended the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for its Annual Progress Report on Gender Equality, presented to the Permanent Council today. Ambassador Holland, in a statement, recognised the OSCE's ongoing work to promote gender equality and ensure women's participation in politics, peace processes, and conflict resolution.
The UK particularly welcomed the report's strong focus on violence against women and girls. The publication of the first OSCE-wide report on femicide and the High-Level International Conference against Femicide were highlighted as significant contributions to tackling gender-based violence. The statement also noted the importance of reliable data, effective prevention, and accountability in this area.
New threats posed by technology, such as online harassment and abuse that silence women's voices, were also acknowledged. The UK praised OSCE efforts to address violence targeting women journalists. Furthermore, the UK commended the OSCE WIN programme for its support of women leaders in Ukraine and exchanges between women activists from Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The UK also recognised efforts to strengthen gender equality within the OSCE itself, noting encouraging progress in recruitment but continued underrepresentation of women in senior leadership positions. The United Kingdom reiterated its commitment to working with participating States, the Secretary General, and OSCE institutions to advance these goals.