ABSTRACT
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) saw fundamental changes to their political and social systems towards the end of the twentieth century. The unique territorial and historical features of the region presented particular gender dynamics for women. National machineries can be regarded as instruments for gender mainstreaming, and for the implementation of policies in other critical areas, though the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) consultation document cautions against burdening national machineries for women with taking on the role of implementation. In the process of democratic reforms, the governments in the region formally recognized the importance of empowering both women and men to become partners in order to correct gender disparities inherited from the past and to promote gender equality. Some of the CEE countries have experienced civil and ethnic conflict and war, and are yet to engage with issues of special structures for furthering women's position.
