NGOs working to promote the equality of chances for men and women presented on Thursday, December 18, about 30 proposals and requests to be included in the next government program. The recommendations will be sent to MPs from both governing parties and the opposition.
Alexei Buzu, executive director of the Center “Partnership for Development”, told a press conference at IPN that the political class showed a lack of political will in 2014 and proved that for them European values such as gender equality are empty slogans unsupported by actions. Two bills on the gender representation quota have been delayed by the Parliament for months and after numerous protests and civic actions from civil society, the MPs approved the two bills, but only in first reading. Buzu said that civil society is displeased and worried by this lack of political will.
Civil society demands the Parliament to adopt in final reading the amendments introducing the paternal leave, which allows dads to take 14 days of leave, paid from the public budget, in the first 100 days after the birth of their children. Another request is to reform the pensions system by gradually equalizing the retirement age for men and women, as well as the contribution period, and to change the formula of calculating pensions during parental leave.
Ecaterina Mardarovici, executive director of Women's Political Club “50 la 50”, said that at least one of the three highest offices in the state – the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker – should be held by a woman. Moreover, equitable representation of men and women ought to be a criterion in the parties' algorithm of appointing members to political offices in the Parliament and in the Cabinet. Mardarovici hopes that in the first 100 days of the new Parliament, the MPs will adopt in final reading the bill regarding the minimum representation quota.
Angelina Zaporojan, representative of the Women's Law Center, reminded that violence against women is a major problem and the law needs to be improved by making it possible for the police to issue emergency protection orders and by establishing a way to compensate the victims of domestic violence. She also demanded the government to sign and ratify the Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women.
Andrei Brighidin of the East European Foundation said that NGOs also would like to see a specialized commission within the Parliament for ensuring and promoting gender equality. Another recommendation for the government is to adopt the regulation on equal chances, which would integrate the gender equality perspective in the process of developing public policies, including the budget.
The proposals were put forward by the East European Foundation, the Center “Partnership for Development”, Women's Political Club “50 la 50”, Women's Law Center, the International Center for Protecting and Promoting Women's Rights “La Strada”, the Center of Legal Resources in Moldova, the Center of Resources for Human Rights, the Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Business Assistance and the Gender-Center.
