A National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence will be founded in Moldova. The founding concept was presented in public consultations staged by the Parliament’s commission on foreign policy and European integration in connection with the implementation of the Istanbul Convention that was ratified by Parliament in 2021, IPN reports.

According to Doina Gherman, head of the commission on foreign policy and European integration, by ratifying the Convention, Moldova undertook to promote zero tolerance of all forms of violence. There were identified several clear commitments for the immediate period and the creation of the Agency is one of them.

The National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence will be a central autonomous administrative body subordinated to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. The Agency will include the central staff and local subdivisions. It will coordinate the implementation of national programs, will assist the Government in implementing policies to prevent and combat this phenomenon and will monitor and assess the public policies in the field. Each year, the Agency will present a report on the situation and progress made in the field to the Government.

After the concept is finalized, a bill on the creation of the Agency will be registered and will be later debated in Parliament.