Women’s rights protection in Moldova doesn’t move beyond declarations – Women’s Organizations

Government’s actions regarding the protection of women’s rights, reduction of violence and discrimination towards women doesn’t move beyond declarations. This is one of the conclusions formulated in the report alternative to Government’s one, issued by 300 specialized NGOs. The chairwoman of the RM Women’s Organizations Forum, Elena Burca, stated at a press conference on Wednesday, 9 August, that the state policy regarding the respect of the gender equality principle is inconsequent, and the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is implemented partly. According to her, the decision-makers do not realize that gender equality is an important condition in ensuring RM sustainable and appropriate development. The analysis of the poverty situation is “gender insensitive”. That is why, Burca notes, the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (SCERS) should include gender aspects as well. Elena Burca said that the state does not benefit fully from women’s abilities, even it invests in their education, and girls learn better than boys. Due to this many of them immigrate to other countries, failing to find here an appropriate and well-paid job. The chairwoman of NGO „Gender-Centru” Valentina Bodrug-Lungu said that the gender inequality is preserved on different levels: so, 2004 data show that women’s average wage was 71.3% compared with men’s average salary, in the decision-making-bodies, in the Government women have 6.7 % of the ministers’ positions, 19.2 % - deputy ministers. Women’s participation level in the Parliament is of 20.8 %. Instead, the rate of trafficked women in order to exploit them and the abused ones is troubling the whole society. The alternative report stresses upon the financial condition of women in RM and their employment level; also other issues such as women’s migration, traffic, violence, unemployment are directly influenced by their economic situation. They consider that the alternative report will determine UN Committee to formulate new recommendations making the state undertake the necessary measure to improve women’s situation of RM. In February 2006, the Law on Ensuring equal opport7unities to women and men was adopted, and recently the Government approved the National Plan for Promoting gender equality in the society 2006-2007, which for the moment does not have any financial ground, they mention. The report regarding the compliance by RM of the obligations assumed at CEDAW shall be presented in New York, on 16 August, at the 36-th Session of the UN Committee for Fighting against Women’s Discrimination. CEDAW is an international document regarding human rights, in its preamble being mentioned that fighting against women’s discrimination and promoting gender equality are the basic principles of the United Nations and are the objective of the responsibilities for the state according to UN Charter and other international documents. The RM Parliament has ratified CEDAW in July 1994, and until now it presented 2 reports on complying with the obligations assumed within the Convention.