Local elections may be Moldova's 'last opportunity' to meet 2015 targets on women empowerment

Moldova may lose one last opportunity to meet the 2015 targets on women's representation under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) unless the Moldovan Government and society redouble efforts in this and other area related to women's participation and gender equality. The United Nations in Moldova issued a statement on the occasion of the 100th International Women’s Day to welcome Moldova's progress, but also to signal concerns in this area. “Under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Government has committed to increase the representation of women to 40 percent in local councils, 25 percent in district councils, 25 percent of mayors, and 30 percent of MPs by 2015. The local elections currently slated for later this spring will likely be the last opportunity to meet the local- and district-level targets before 2015”, says the statement. The statement recalls that there are currently only 21 women parliamentarians and only one woman Minister in Moldova. This under-representation at national level is mirrored also at the regional and local levels: women are only 16.9 percent of district council representatives, and only 17.4 percent of mayors. Among other highlighted concerns are: women continue to be paid an average of only 72% of what men are paid; most women are unable to enjoy effective protection from domestic violence; the vulnerability of women is perpetuated by the continuing exclusion of women from decision-making authority in the public sector. “Moldova has set an ambitious course aiming to pursue deeper integration in Europe. Gender equality belongs to the deepest core European values. Only through concerted action by political parties, as well as by the public-at-large, will Moldova meet the targets set for the representation of women in public life”, the UN in Moldova's statement reads.