For the first time in Moldova, three Romani women were elected as local councilors in the recent local elections. These are Laura Bosnea from Rascani town, Varvara Duminica from Chetrosu village of Drochia district and Eugenia Galatan from Floresti town. All of them were chosen councilors in the local councils of their settlements. The newly elected councilors shared their experience in an event staged by the Network of Romani Women and Girls with the support of the UN program “Women in Politics”, IPN reports.
Laura Bosnea said the fact that she was elected to a managerial post means a lot to her as she will be able to help the community and will have access to more opportunities. Among her priorities are to support the Romani children by enrolling them at school. Unlike the other children, the children of Roma families do not have access to many services and the local authorities should set up a social center for them to be prepared for school there. A social eatery and a public bath should exist in the town.
Varvara Duminica stated that she is honored to have been chosen as councilor in the village where she grew up and whose problems she knows well. “I’m very glad to hold this post as now I will be able to do something for my ethnic community, for my village and the whole population,” she said.
Elena Ratoi, component manager within the UN program “Women in Politics”, said this project aims to empower women who run or were already elected to executive posts and to encourage them to be more active in politics. These are engaged in different activities and are taught how to run and encouraged to be more courageous. “One of the parts of the project is aimed at supporting women who come from vulnerable groups, including the Romania women, the disabled women, the migrant women and women who are subject to violence,” stated Elena Ratoi.
Kristina Raducan, one of the founders of the Network of Romani Women and Girls, said she aims to promote the women of the Romani people in public life. So far no Romani woman ran for councilor. Initially, the three women didn’t imagine that they can be elected to an administrative post, but they were encouraged and managed to achieve good results.
