Politics and health are the areas where the biggest gender inequality is witnessed. In politics, women are underrepresented, while to health the men provide not enough attention. These data are contained in the Gender Equality Index 2015, which was presented by the Partnership for Development Center in a news conference at IPN.
Nina Lozinschi, coordinator of the Platform for Gender Equality, said civil society recently signed a resolution by which they ask the authorities to become involved. The women continue to be insufficiently represented in Parliament and the Government. The share of women entrepreneurs is also small. On the other hand, 63% of the women in Moldova were always subject to at least one form of violence.
Parliament is asked to adopt the law that institutes a minimum women’s quota for party lists in the final reading and to strengthen the national institutions empowered to ensure gender equality. The Government is asked to work out a new gender equality program for 2016-2020, to institute viable mechanisms for integrating the gender dimension into all the areas, etc.
Partnership for Development Center director Alexei Buzu presented the Gender Equality Index 2015 that analyzes the situation of last year. Of the six areas assessed, regression was witnessed in four. The labor market saw the biggest regression. In 2014, the number of working women with at least one child of preschool age decreased, while the number of working men, with children of preschool age, remained the same.
Though the stereotypes persist, the population changed slightly its perception of the women’s role in politics. This area saw a slight improvement. The women remain discriminated as regards access to resources. The situation is especially bad in the case of elderly women. The women’s pension remains lower than the men’s.
Inequality is also witnessed in the health system, but it is the men who are underrepresented there. The men, of different ages, go to see a doctor more seldom than the women, while the incidence of serious diseases and mortality are higher among men.
