OSCE Academy hosts Discussion on Women, Peace, and Security in Central Asia

On 07 March 2024, a discussion on "Women, Peace and Security in Central Asia: The Role of Education," organized in cooperation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB), was held at the OSCE Academy. H.E. Marilyn Josefson, EU Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Country Representative, Ekaterine Nakashidze, Deputy Head of the OSCE POiB, and Aigerim Toktogulova, National Project Officer (WIN) at the OSCE POiB joined the OSCE Academy’s students. Together, they discussed the pivotal role of education in advancing women’s empowerment, specifically its contribution to peace and security in the Central Asian region.

Dr. Kate Walker, Director of the OSCE Academy, opened the event with a warm welcome, expressing gratitude to the students and esteemed guests. Dr. Walker underscored the significance of addressing women's issues in Central Asia and highlighted the critical role of education in fostering gender equality, recognizing its broader impact on the region. Ekaterine Nakashidze, Deputy Head of the Programme Office in Bishkek, provided insights into the OSCE's scope of work in the field of education in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, noting that ‘… education for women in Central Asia is not merely a matter of individual empowerment but a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development, political security, and human rights.’

During the event, students from Central Asian countries and Afghanistan undertaking the MA Programmes in Politics & Security, Economic Governance & Development, and Human Rights & Sustainability (MAHRS), as well as the BA Programme in Economics, discussed the current state of education and its impact on women's empowerment in the region.  Following the students’ interventions, distinguished guests - H.E. Josefson, Ms. Jamsran, and Ms. Toktogulova - joined the discussion and provided feedback on the issues raised and questions posed by the students.

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