A number of representatives of civil society said only two women among the 19 candidates for posts of ambassador is not enough and demand that Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet should ensure gender balance between the candidates, IPN reports.
In an appeal to the Premier, these say that the parliamentary commission on foreign policy and European integration recently approved the list of candidates for ambassador. This list contains 19 candidates, but only two of these are women, namely Gabriela Moraru (nominated for ambassador to Israel) and Corina Calugaru (nominated for ambassador, permanent representative to the Council of Europe. “We consider this fact is non-democratic and is intended to continue discrimination against women in Moldova. The nomination of only two women for ambassador represents regression in promoting gender equality, which is actually a desideratum and a measure assumed by the Government through the plan of action for 2015-2016,” reads the civil society’s appeal.
The representatives of civil society note with regret that this nomination decreases the number of women diplomats who represent the country abroad. From three women diplomats who served in the previous period - Ala Beleavschi (Canada), Stela Stangaci (Italy) and Tatiana Parvu (Council of Europe) - only two women were now fielded for ambassador.
“By continuing to ignore the gender dimension at such a pace and by not ensuring the proper representation of the women in diplomatic posts, the Government contributes to the perpetuation of a patriarchal society and to the exclusion of women from the decision-making processes. We demand ensuring a gender balance between the candidates for ambassador so that at least seven women are on the list,” says the appeal that was signed by about 50 organizations and representatives of civil society.
