A number of Moldovan NGOs called on the Government, Parliament and the leaders of the ruling political parties to include the draft law on the minimum 40% quota of women and men in the lists of electoral candidates in the agendas of the executive and the legislature. In a new conference at IPN, the representatives of civil society expressed their concern about the groundless delay in adopting the minimum representation quota at a time when the deadline for setting this quota is end-May.
Ecaterina Mardarovici, executive director of the Women’s Political Club 50/50, said that under the Moldovan legislation, no changes can be made in the legislation that regulates the electoral process six month before the election day. According to political leaders, the parliamentary elections of this year will take place on November 30. “So, May is the deadline by which Parliament must adopt the bill that provides for the introduction of the quota,” she stated.
According to executive director of the Partnership for Development Center Alexei Buzu, there are two bills concerning the women’s representation quota. The first bill is an initiative submitted by a group of Liberal-Democratic MPs in 2010, while the second one was proposed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family in 2013. For the time being, only the lawmakers’ bill was approved by the Government, but it is gathering dust in Parliament.
Director of the Center “Casa Marioarei” Elena Burca noted that several meetings of the representatives of civil society, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and leaders of the ruling parties were held earlier. The officials promised that the bills will be debated soon, but nothing was done. “In Moldova, the women represent 52% of the population and it’s not right that they cannot take part in the management of budgets, decision-making, etc,” she said.
President of East Europe Foundation Sorin Mereacre said the reasons invoked by some of the politicians concerning the low number of women in the state bodies include the women’s passive participation in the public life. The women are too responsible. They take care of the family and children. In order to be able to take part in the public life, they need more opportunities and conditions.
Director of the Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO) Sergiu Ostaf stated that a women’s trio in the Government or Parliament outstrips a men’s trio. The women are more professional. They take correct decisions without tensions and quarrels and oppose the incorrect decisions. “The quality of governance will be higher if the decisions are taken with the participation of women,” he said.
NGO Council secretary general Antonita Fonari said the popular approval ratings of the ruling parties have decreased. That’s why they should come with new faces in the parliamentary elections. The women are more responsible as regards promotion of social projects, especially those applying to women and children
The signatories of the public call are the Women’s Political Club 50/50, the Partnership for Development Center, East Europe Foundation, the Forum of Women Organizations of Moldova, CReDO, the National Participation Council, the Association “Young and Free”, the NGO Council, and the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.
The women now represent 18.8% of the members of Parliament, less than the international average of 20%.
