ProGen Alliance 2009 calls on parties, CEC, media and NGOs to observe gender equality in parliamentary elections

The ProGen Alliance 2009, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, which stand for gender equality, urges political parties, the Central Election Commission (CEC), media and NGOs to sign a “Commitment of principle on promoting and observing the equality between women and men in the 2009 parliamentary elections.” “The document assigns the norms of behavior in the electoral campaign concerning the gender equality,” said Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie, the executive director of the Partnership for Development Center. “The commitment represents a mechanism through which we shall try to make the political parties and other factors in charge self-responsible following the clear recommendations for observing the gender equality and including the gender dimensions in the electoral platform and offers,” Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie specified. To ensure an integral approach of the gender aspects in the parties’ list of priorities, ProGen Alliance 2009 launched a long-lasting civic engagement (2009 – 2014) – “The path paper on observing gender equality in electoral races in Moldova.” The alliance also launched the web site www.alegeriprogen.md containing useful information about the gender aspects in the parliamentary elections, the platforms and electoral lists of the parties in terms of gender, as well as the opinions and attitudes of the members of the ProGen Alliance 2009. Ecaterina Mardarovici, the director of the Women’s Political Club “50/50”, has specified that the NGOs will offer the analysis of the electoral lists and programs of the political parties, after registering the candidates. “Promoting as many women as possible on the lists, and not only on the last places, but also on eligible places, will create a better image of the parties and will offer a better chance to win in elections,” Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, the president of the NGO “Gender-Center,” said. The activities are a part of the project “Support for observing the gender equality in elections,” accomplished with the financial support of the Soros Foundation-Moldova, the Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation, the Open Society Institute, the Eurasia Foundation and the OSCE Mission to Moldova. Cristina Raileanu, and expert with the project, said that the ProGen Alliance 2009 managed to do in Moldova what the profile organizations from Romania didn’t – to make a coalition in the parliamentary elections. Representative of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Judy Hale highlighted that “to increase the political power of women, Moldova needs a gender-based balance during the electoral process. Working out a document regarding gender aspects is an important step for achieving this goal.” The ProGen Alliance 2009 was launched in October, 2008, upon the initiative of the non-governmental organization the Partnership for Development Center, the Women’s Political Club 50/50, “Gender-Center,” the Forum of the Women’s organizations and the Club for equal chance “In Doi.” At present, the Alliance joins over 15 NGOs.