“We want flowers and equal chances too,” chanted activists who took part in the Solidarity March mounted in Chisinau on March 8, on the International Women’s Day. The participants in the march asked the authorities to ratify the Istanbul Convention. They set off from the UNIC Shopping Center and went along Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt Blvd, stopping at a number of state institutions, such as the Government, Parliament, Presidential Office and the Prosecutor’s Office, IPN reports.
Alina Andronache, specialist in advocacy and communication at the Partnership for Development Center, said the bill on the Istanbul Convention reached Parliament and it is now the responsibility of MPs to adopt it. The activists also asked to vote eight laws to prove the real intention to promote the gender equality principle in Moldova.
They demanded to adopt measures to prevent and combat sexual harassment at work and at educational institutions of all levels given that each fifth woman working in Moldova is subject to different forms of sexual harassment. The childcare leave should be reformed so as to encourage fathers to become involved and benefit from this right, stated Alina Andronache.
Legislative changes are also needed to reduce the pay and pension gaps. The pay gap in 2019 was of 14%. Also, the Education Code should be amended so as to allow financing crèches.
According to Alina Andronache, Moldova during the past ten years hasn’t made essential progress in ensuring gender equality as the steps taken by the authorities are superficial and the institutions do not cooperate between them so as to make headway.
The participants in the march called on the officials to renounce stereotyped speeches. They said such speech is used by President Igor Dodon. While passing by the Presidential Building, the marchers threw the March 8 greeting cards signed by Igor Dodon in its yard. “Mister Dodon, prepare food, wash the dishes, clear the table yourself,” chanted the participants.
The event was organized by the Gender Equality Platform, the National Coalition “Life Without Violence in the Family” and the Center “Genderdoc-M”.
