Investment in women is an economic imperative that is directly tied to human rights. It enables women to thrive, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the entire society, measurable in financial terms. Today, however, global economic and financial systems contribute to perpetuating gender inequality. Thus, financial resources are needed to overcome these challenges and build a world that enables all the women to realize their rights. Such statements were made during the event “Invest in women: Empowerment stories” which was staged by UN Women in connection with the launch of the campaign dedicated to International Women’s Day 2024, IPN reports.
Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Representative to Moldova, said that today’s event launches an eventful week to mark International Women’s Day. In 2024 the goal is to invest in women and accelerate progress. Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 refers to gender equality, namely achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
“Studies show that more than 324 million women and girls will live in poverty by 2030. Women spend three times more time caring for family members. This work is not paid and this unpaid work is not part of the global GDP. Thus, women pay this price by having reduced pensions. That’s why this year’s topic is “Invest in women!” It is an economic imperative and a human rights issue. This is because gender inequality still exists. The world would need US$360 billion to achieve these development goals. That means a lot, but if we consider that the cost of violence against women is estimated at US$1.3 trillion, we realize how important it is to invest in closing this gap,” said Dominika Stojanoska.
MP Larisa Voloh, head of the parliamentary commission for public administration and regional development, said that the women, as well as the men, have something to contribute to the development of society. “One thing is certain – the noninvolvement of more than half of Moldova’s population in decision-making processes means nothing but imbalance of approach and unilateral solutions to the most important problems of society. The change in attitude starts primarily with women. We can improve things if we invest in education, in a multidimensional approach and, certainly, if we promote the most beautiful and best examples of success,” said the parliamentarian.
Rodica Crudu, Secretary of State of the Government, said that investing in women is not only an altruistic gesture, but also an imperative of human rights and a cornerstone for building a strong society. “It is proven that when women are empowered, included in the decision-making process, the benefits are felt throughout the community. The equal participation of both women and men in the decision-making process is an imperative condition for an effective democracy and good governance,” noted Rodica Crudu.
Attending the event, EU Ambassador to Moldova Jānis Mažeiks referred to the success stories of several women who started own businesses in various fields, benefiting from European grants. “These stories illustrate our commitment to a future where every woman and girl can thrive,” stated the ambassador.
The event was attended by powerful and determined women, who benefited from various programs launched by UN Women, as well as representatives of national and local authorities, private sector, NGOs, international organizations and the UN. Women told their empowerment stories, highlighting the positive impact of the initiatives they benefited from, advocating more investment in women and stressing that the women’s progress benefits society as a whole.
