An online round table discussion on integrating gender into border management and security was held in the capital from 3 to 5 August within the framework of the OSCE center's extra-budgetary project "Strengthening the capacity of the state border service of Turkmenistan".

Representatives of the Border, Customs and Migration services of Turkmenistan took part in the event held by the OSCE Center in Ashgabat. The event was organized to familiarize participants with international best practices in promoting gender perspectives in law enforcement.

The event was opened by the head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Natalia Drozd, who said that the Center regularly organizes such events in support of the national action plan of Turkmenistan on gender equality.

The meeting was organized with the participation of OSCE experts, international gender consultants, and national experts. OSCE experts from the Secretariat, the Office for democratic institutions and human rights and the OSCE Border Management College presented the Organization's action Plan for promoting gender equality and integrating it into border management, international conventions related to gender issues, and practical examples of a gender-sensitive approach to border security education.

International experts also reviewed global trends in border management and the integration of gender perspectives into border management at the organizational, structural and cultural levels, as well as gender-sensitive employment policies in the security sector.

Turkmen experts informed the participants about the practical implementation of the national action plan of Turkmenistan on gender equality, which corresponds to the national legislation and the main priorities of the national employment policy concerning women.

Natalia Drozd:

Taking into account the multi-pronged approach of the National action plan, the Centre works closely with various ministries and agencies of the host country, thereby facilitating inter sectoral interaction on gender issues. The participation of representatives of three law enforcement agencies and national experts from the Ministry of labor and social protection of the population, the Institute of state, law and democracy and the women's Union in this event is an example of multilateral cooperation in promoting gender equality.

The event was organized with the financial support of the German government, according to a press release from the OSCE Center.