Discrimination against women became a deep-rooted phenomenon in Moldova, expert

A gender-based press analysis made by the Partnership for Development Center shows that most of the positions in the political and economic spheres are held by men. According to the Center’s executive director Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie, the discrimination against women became a deep-rooted phenomenon in Moldova, conceptually at the level of all the social sections, Info-Prim Neo reports. The analysis shows that the women occupy mostly posts in culture and entertainment, education, the service sector and health sector. Discussions centering on the woman’s position in society were held within a roundtable meeting organized by the Partnership for Development Center. Among the examples showing that the women in Moldova are discriminated are the fact that 70% of the job announcements are for men, the absence or the low number of women serving in the executive bodies of the country (only one woman in the Cabinet of Ministers, no woman in the list of advisers to the head of state, five ministers have no woman in the post of deputy minister). The lack of political and economic terminology that declines according to gender (chief, minister, leader, director, etc.) also served as an argument. The promotion of men by the mass media by inviting men to debate programs and the publication of only men’s names on the front pages of newspapers were other examples given by the participants in the roundtable meeting. Deputy Speaker Liliana Palihovich said the women should be promoted in society by adopting legislation that would establish a balance between genders. “We must first of all convince the female voters to choose women for administrative posts,” she stated. It was also stressed the necessity of adopting the Antidiscrimination Law that bans discrimination on the grounds of gender. The women represent 52% of the population of Moldova. As many as 146 women were elected mayors last year, as against 143 in 2007.