News

On 5-6 December in Vilnius, Lithuania affirmed its support for and gave attention to the constructive work and initiatives in the OSCE women’s rights and equal opportunities sphere at the round table discussion on gender equality and equal opportunities called “Making Women’s Voices Heard”.

The discussion was organized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of holding the OSCE Chairmanship.

Participants of the event from the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative, the region of the Mediterranean Sea, Lithuanian and international organizations held a two-day discussion on high-level women’s representation in politics, domestic violence, the role of women in war and armed conflict, public discourse on gender equality and related relevant topics. The discussion emphasized that the issue of women’s rights and equal opportunities should be discussed at the highest level.

The event on 6 December was attended by President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė. According to her, particularly great attention was given by the international community to this subject and this indicates the importance of the issue. The head of state took an active part in the discussion, answered participants’ questions about the situation of women in Lithuania and in the world.

The President urged the participants of the discussion to set a good example for fighting against gender inequality, taking up personal responsibility for decisions, showing initiative, making effort and perseverance.

Gender equality is among the priorities of Lithuania’s OSCE Chairmanship, as well as it is on the programme of the Community of Democracies. The MFA plans to continue holding events dedicated to this topic also in 2012.