I welcome and agree to the initiative of the President to declare 2015 as a woman’s year. Events that developed in recent past related to the killings of more than 20 women once again demonstrated importance of measures that need to be taken by the state for protection of women’s rights. Despite numerous steps taken for improvement of legal rights of women, achieving gender equality still remains an important challenge.

This initiative will even further enhance public interest and put forth importance of the issue; it once again reminds us how important women’s role is in establishment of principles of equality and what their contribution is on the road to democratic development of the country.

It is important that along with having symbolic connotation 2015 to be a year of real improvement for situation of legal rights of women. We should take measures to reduce instances of violence against women, increase women’s participation in decision-making processes and to improve labour rights and access to services.

We hope that this initiative of the President will have a positive effect on the sphere of protection of women’s rights and will encourage important changes; all state bodies will grant appropriate attention to the issue and apply it to everyday processes.

I would like to hereby note that one of the main priorities of the Public Defender’s Office for 2015 remains achieving gender equality and active participation in the process of protection of human rights. We will continue to integrate questions of gender equality into work of the office, as well as support experience -sharing for other state agencies.