OSCE Annual Progress Report on Gender Equality: UK statement, September 2026
Ambassador Holland recognises the OSCE continued work to promote gender equality and ensure women’s participation in politics, peace processes and conflict resolution.
Thank you, Secretary General, for your presentation of the Annual Progress Report to the Permanent Council this morning.
Gender equality, empowering women in politics, and combatting violence against women and girls remain key elements of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security.
We support the organisation’s continued efforts to promote gender equality, and to ensure women’s participation in politics, peace processes and conflict resolution. The launch of the OSCE Roadmap on Women, Peace and Security, and the Secretary General’s endorsement of the UN Common Pledge, are important steps forward.
The UK particularly welcomes the report’s strong focus on violence against women and girls. The publication of the first OSCE-wide report on femicide and the convening of the High-Level International Conference against Femicide represent significant contributions to tackling one of the gravest manifestations of gender-based violence. They also underline the importance of reliable data, effective prevention and accountability.
At the same time, technology is creating new threats. Online harassment and abuse silence women’s voices and restrict their participation in public life – online and offline. OSCE efforts to address violence targeting women journalists is particularly valuable.
The UK commends the excellent work of the OSCE WIN programme, particularly its support for women leaders in Ukraine, and exchanges between women activists from Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We welcome the work of the Women’s Peace Leadership Programme and YoungWomen4Peace in investing in the next generation of women peacebuilders and security leaders. These are practical investments in more representative institutions and sustainable peace.
We also recognise the efforts to strengthen gender equality within the organisation. Progress in recruitment is encouraging, but women remain underrepresented in senior leadership positions. We as participating States have an important role to play in nominating women for senior seconded posts.
The United Kingdom remains committed to working with participating States, the Secretary General and OSCE institutions to advance these goals. We owe it to women and girls in our region to deliver on our commitments – and doing so is directly in our shared security interests.
Thank you, Mr Chair.