Schools of Political Studies supported by the Council of Europe held a conference "Democracy and Electoral Standards - Challenge for Europe" on the 16th-18th September in Kiev, Ukraine. Alumni from 16 schools participated in the conference. On conference also participated CESI's project coordinator Tajana Broz and she held a lecture "Are the laws all we need for equal opportunities - Croatian Story". The lecture presented Croatian institutional and legal framework for gender equality together with activities undertaken for enhancing the women's political participation in local elections 2009. From Croatia on conference participated also Nevena Crljenko, executive director of Academy for Political Development, Tin Gazivoda, director of Centre for Human Rights and Ana Brnčić, advisor at T-HT.