The Church has great potential to promote gender equality in the Republic of Moldova, representatives of the Orthodox Church said in a debate on the Church and gender equality in Moldova that was staged on the initiative of the Gender Equality Platform on June 8, IPN reports.
According to priest Iulian Rata, teacher at the Academy of Theology, the clerics cannot divide the community into two and give more powers to men than to women. “Many believe that the Church diminishes the role of women. I often noticed this perception, but it is mistaken. At the Academy where I work, the employees are mainly female, while the church choirs consist mainly of women. The Church does not neglect the role of women,” stated Iulian Rata.
Priest Octavian Solomon, who also teaches at the Academy of Theology, said the women in Moldova have lost the role they played in society as many of them went abroad to work and became involved in activities typical of men.
Valentina Bodrug Lungu, vice president of the Gender Equality Platform, said the Church and gender equality are controversial subjects in Moldova. “We want a society where we would witness fewer cases of discrimination. Polls show the Church plays an important role in society and actions should be taken so that we could combine forces,” she stated.
Nina Lozinski, secretary general of the Gender Equality Platform, said that some of the representatives of the Church during the campaign prior to the parliamentary elections promoted inappropriate messages against women. “These stereotypes should be combated as the women should not be discouraged from taking part in the decision-making process,” she noted.
According to the Gender Equality Index presented by the Partnership for Development Center in March, a low level of gender equality is maintained in Moldova. However, compared with 2009 and 2015, the index has improved, but the rise is insignificant.
