Study shows men and women in Moldova do not enjoy equal chances

Even if the law on equality of chances between men and women was adopted, there are impediments that hinder its de jure execution, says a study assessing the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan’s stipulations regarding the promotion of equality of chances between men and women. The study was presented at public hearings in the Parliament. It reveals such shortages as the lack of a representative share of women in the decision making bodies, the absence of a mechanism for submitting, examining and approving the complaints about discriminations on grounds of gender and others. The study also shows that the public authorities and the civil society took measures to prevent and combat domestic violence and the results are noticeable. Among these are the drafting of the law on the prevention and combating of domestic violence, the training of specialists in the area, creation of a specialized equal opportunities and violence prevention division in the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, organisation of awareness-raising campaigns to reduce violence in the family etc. Nevertheless, the largest part of the population continues to regard the domestic violence as a private matter and not as a violation of the human rights. The study says that situation can be improved by adjusting the national legislation in the area to the international one, adopting the bill on the prevention and combating of domestic violence, strengthening the institutional capacities, observing the principle of equality of chances between men and women at the workplace, preventing sexual harassment and others. The consultants consider that the implementation of the proposed measures will contribute to the achievement of one of the Millennium Development Goals – promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. Consultants’ recommendations are intended for the authorities responsible for implementing the relevant stipulations of the National Human Rights Action Plan, the local authorities, the law enforcement bodies, the judicial system, the relevant NGOs and mass media. The study was carried out by national consultants with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova. A number of 348 murders were committed in Moldova in the past six years. There were recorded 317 serious bodily injuries in the family. Most of the victims were women. Experts consider that the domestic violence is not efficiently combated because the law on the prevention and combating of domestic violence has not yet entered into force.