Moldova has joined the initiative “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” – a joint commitment to promoting gender equality in the financial sector. The ringing of the bell marks the beginning of the trading day on the exchange. The initiative takes place for the tenth time worldwide and is the first year in which it is implemented in the Republic of Moldova. The event was organized by UN Women, the Moldova Stock Exchange and the International Finance Corporation. Over the past 10 years, the ceremony has become a symbol of solidarity and a call to action for stock exchanges around the world, advocating diversity and inclusion in this sector, IPN reports
Moldova Stock Exchange president Tudor Muravschi said that this year’s edition is entitled “Let's invest in women to accelerate progress”. The process of investing in women must encompass all the stages of personal development, starting with the education process and continuing with the vocational training process. “By ensuring access to high-quality education for girls and women, that tool needed to develop skills and realize the full potential is provided. Ensuring equal career opportunities and creating a gender-fair professional environment represent that sustainable foundation for creating an inclusive society and a resilient economy. Therefore, it is important to recognize and support women in their careers, especially in areas where they are underrepresented,” stated Tudor Muravschi.
Galina Cicanci, Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation, noted that this event traditionally marks the importance of gender equality and women’s participation in the private sector. According to her, women’s participation in the private sector is often undervalued. The women have less access to employment opportunities, lower capital to grow their businesses, but also lower income to invest in the future.
“In Moldova, the female labor force participation rate stands at about 38% and is below the male participation rate. Unfortunately, family care responsibilities and unpaid work at home are a hindrance to the more active involvement of women in business and professional careers. At the same time, the pay gap, when they are employed, compared to men’s income, is of about 15-17% in Moldova,” said Galina Cicanci
