Women with disabilities and Roma women have limited access to society's political life, especially as candidates for elective positions. Political parties are reluctant to include Roma women and women with disabilities on party list, especially on eligible positions. The findings were presented within two political empowerment programs for women from various groups, attended by over 40 women with disabilities and around 40 Roma women.
The political training and guidance programs were carried out between November 2018 and November 2019, by the National Center for Roma and the "Motivație" association from Moldova, in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women. At a summit event, it was presented that 13 Roma women and seven women with disabilities ran for mayor and councilor positions during this year's local elections. Six women with disabilities and four Roma women were elected to local councils.
Ludmila Iachim, the executive director of the "Motivație" association, said that this program was a complex one, which involved numerous training and mentoring activities. "As a result, 50% of our participant women were elected as local counselors, which is an unexpected and very important result", said Ludmila Iachim. According to her, there were many challenges and women have experienced less enjoyable experiences, including ad hominem attacks. "It is important not to differentiate between women, men, their level and group, but to focus on the person's abilities, perseverance and the values that they promote", said Ludmila Iachim.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNICEF Representative in Moldova, Desiree Jongsma, said that one of the priorities of the United Nations is gender equality. "Empowering women is an imperative objective. And yet, in 2019, ranging from the local level to the global level, women's political participation and leadership have remained constrained, especially when we talk about Roma women and women with disabilities. Women's choices are sometimes limited by structural barriers and, consequently, women have less opportunities for education and resources needed in order to gain important leadership positions, compared to men. These barriers are even higher for women in underrepresented groups", pointed out Desiree Jongsma.
Natalia Duminica, the executive director of the National Center for Roma, said that this is the first time so many Roma women have participated in the elections. “Gender roles and family responsibilities have diminished our chances of getting involved in political life. Political parties have hesitated to include us on party lists, while involving women in ground activities such as signature collection and campaigning. Corruption and the unstable political situation in our country made us less eager to get involved in political processes. However, six women have won local counselor seats", said Natalia Duminica.
Program participants reported cases of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender and disability. The program coordinators requested authorities to draft legislation in order to remove existing barriers.
