Thank you, Madam Chair,

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Secretary General for presenting this insightful Annual Progress Report.

Dear Helga,

We value your powerful voice and tireless dedication along with your able team, in advocating for and supporting women’s empowerment in peace processes and advancing gender equality within OSCE and beyond.

It is a pleasure for me to address you today as we reflect on the OSCE’s journey towards gender equality, as highlighted in the 2023 report. While there is a notable progress, each of us must continue to address the persistent challenges and identify areas for improvement.

We commend the substantial progress in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. The Networking Platform for Women Leaders, including Peacebuilders and Mediators, has effectively translated policy commitments into concrete actions. The Young Women for Peace Initiative and the graduation of the first cohort from the Women’s Peace Leadership Programme are remarkable milestones. These initiatives empower young women peacebuilders and ensure their inclusion in crucial peace and security processes.

We applaud the focus on the Ukrainian women, especially the establishment of the OSCE dedicated platform.

We appreciate all efforts on gender mainstreaming at OSCE programs and projects, especially in non traditional areas like energy climate change, water management, anticorruption initiatives, etc.

However, we must also acknowledge the ongoing challenges such as conflicts and crises that continue to disproportionately affect women and girls. Gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, remains a significant challenge everywhere. Alarming spikes in femicide and online violence indicate that more robust measures are needed to protect women from harm both offline and online. Additionally, there are still considerable gaps in achieving full and equal participation of women in political and social life.

We also appreciate the role and the efforts of the field missions to promote gender equality and women empowerment and in this regard, we commend the OSCE Presence in Albania and its pivotal role in providing various forms of support especially in areas such as representation, and participation of women at decision making at national and local levels.

Madam Chair,

My government has reformed mechanisms to enhance gender equality, outlined in the National Strategy for Gender Equality and Action Plan 2021-2030. This includes updated laws against online violence, better access to justice, and promoting equality awareness, especially among youth. Albania is also revising its Law “On Gender Equality in Society” to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for men and women, aligning with national and EU standards.

In conclusion, we appreciate the unwavering OSCE’s dedication to gender equality and the commitment of Malta chairpersonship on gender equality as well as your personal commitment, dear Natasha.

With continued efforts and innovative approaches, we can overcome the challenges ahead and ensure that the principles of gender equality and women’s empowerment are fully realized, leading to a more just and equitable society for all.