Violence against women and domestic violence are widespread and systemic in the Republic of Moldova. It is estimated that more than 63% of women and girls aged 15-65 have experienced at least one form of violence from their partners. As part of the “Break the silence. We stand by you” Campaign, an event for preventing and combating gender-based violence was organized in Chisinau. Survivors of violence have been encouraged to seek help and start a new life, without physical, emotional, economic or any other kind of abuse.
The event is organized by the Intersectoral Group on the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, led by UNFPA, UNHCR, UN Women and UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
Attending the event, Minister Marcel Spatari declared that it is extremely important for victims or witnesses to violence to break the silence and report these cases. In this regard, the population must know about the existence of the telephone numbers 080088008 and 112, which they can call. According to the minister, often violence is silent and lived in solitude, and this sadness leads to a deepening of the feeling of guilt. In his opinion, to overcome violence, more education is needed so as to overcome stereotypes that are deeply rooted in the mentality of some people. There is also a need to improve the standard of living of the population, as poverty gives rise to stress, dissatisfaction, arguments and violence. And last but not least, it is necessary to strengthen the relevant agencies, which need to work together and intervene in cases of violence: to combat them, but above all to prevent them.
UNFPA Resident Representative to Moldova Nigina Abaszada stated that there are no strict criteria regarding risk groups, but it is obvious that women, girls, especially those who do not know their rights, those coming from afar or members of ethnic minorities are more vulnerable to violence.
Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Representative, said that activities focused on better informing girls and women about their rights are being carried out. Information activities also take place about the services that exist to protect victims of violence.
Ilija Talev, UNICEF Representative to Moldova, said that in addition to violence against women, the phenomenon of violence against children also persists. Often these acts of violence against these two groups have the same motives. According to him, the campaign aims to encourage the victims of violence to talk about this phenomenon, to report their abusers, so that as a result this phenomenon could be combated.
The campaign is launched as part of the global initiative “16 days of activism against gender-based violence”. The global action aims to raise awareness and promote innovations and a an exchange of best practices to stop the global “pandemic” of violence against women and girls.
