Inequality between women and men in Moldova widened last year, shows the Gender Equality Index 2021, which is an annual study measuring gender equality in such areas as health, labor market, politics, access to resources, perceptions and stereotypes. The Gender Equality Index is traditionally launched by the Center “Partnership for Development” (CPD) on March 8, IPN reports.
According to the CPD, the gender equality level in 2021 was 59 of a maximum score of 100, as opposed to 58 a year ago. “The previous years, slow progress had been made, but this year we’ve witnessed regression. The one-point decline means nothing else but the fact that the taken steps have a reduced impact,” noted specialists. The 2021 Index shows declines in half of the areas covered by the Index. The most pronounced diminution is witnessed for access to resources, education and labor market. The specific features of these areas underline the existing gender inequalities.
The labor market in Moldova is characterized by pronounced gender discrepancies that negatively affect the women. During the past three years, specialists reported an expected decline in the index for the
labor market, with the women being the most affected ones. The latest data of the National Bureau of Statistics show the number of working women decreased and this makes the women more dependent on social welfare. “The measures aimed at the efficient reconciliation of professional life and personal life can be considered the main sources that fuel the given regression in achieving gender equality in the workplace,” stated the specialists. At the same time, the Bureau’s data for 2019 show that only 22.5% of the total number of children aged one to two years attended early education institutions, on average. The discrepancy between the average salary of women and men rises constantly, being now of 14.1%.
The crisis caused by the CODIV-19 pandemic diminishes further women’s chances to enjoy the same opportunities as men. Recent studies conducted by the CPD, concerning the pandemic’s impact on gender equality, revealed that the measures instituted to overcome the effects of the pandemic underlined the already significant inequalities in the division of responsibilities and determined a greater withdrawal of women from the labor market.
The Gender Equality Index shows the men are actually directly affected by gender inequality, especially in health and education. Studies show the men are more unwilling to invest or take part in training for improving professional qualification and are less disposed to access medical services for assessing their state of health consistently and ordinarily.
Updated estimates say Moldova will reach a perfect level of gender equality in 204 years. “Instead of advancing, we stagnate. Gender inequality hampers Moldova from realizing its full potential. The authorities should take urgent measures to accelerate progress in ensuring gender equality. In this regard, the CPD requests Parliament, the presidential administration and the Government to increase access to early education services, to implement measures to encourage both of the parents to benefit from childcare leave and to reduce the pay gap. Also, the CPD asks to introduce measures to combat sexual harassment in the workplace and to ratify the Istanbul Convention.”
The Gender Equality Index 2021 was produced by the Center “Partnership for Development” in the framework of the project “Common Initiative for Equal Opportunities”. The project is implemented by East Europe Foundation in cooperation with the CPD with funds provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Sweden.
