International studies show that women have fewer chances of winning decisional posts in elections based on the mixed-member electoral system, deputy head of the Gender Equality Platform Valentina Bodrug-Lungu stated in a public debate entitled “Starting position of political parties and potential independent candidates on pro-Eurasian platform before an electoral year”, which was the 83rd installment of the series “Developing political culture by public debates”, staged by IPN News Agency.
The gender expert recommends the political parties to field more women in elections, to develop their potential and to offer them the chance of making themselves heard. Though the largest majority considers the responsibility for family life is borne mainly by women, today these can make a significant contribution to the economy and the social development of the country. “The participation by women in the political, socioeconomic life is partial. It is considered that the woman should mandatorily stay at home and take care of children. Until we do not break these stereotypes, we cannot create a real platform for really involving women in the political, social and economic life, in the same conditions as those enjoyed by men,” she stated.
Valentina Bodrug-Lungu said that in case of elections, it is important not only to put the women on lists of candidates, but to also ensure their real election and to keep them in decisional posts and use their contribution to changing the situation. “Regrettably, the women are often treated as victims and as a vulnerable group. We should change the paradigm and understand that women are also agents of change,” she stated.
Valentina Bodrug-Lungu also recommends the parties to try and be correct during the election campaign from the gender perspective and not to allow discrimination, sexism and harming of women’s dignity. Moldova assumed particular national and international commitments in this regard and these should be fulfilled. “At national level, women represent 52% of the population. In Parliament, we represent 20%. In business, women occupy visible posts in 27% of the cases. The women occupy mainly posts in the small business. Can we consider a power legitimate when the women are underrepresented?” she asked.
The expert noted that the areas were women hold posts are a challenge for Moldova as the salaries in these areas are lower. These include education and healthcare, where the pays force the women to survive.
Valentina Bodrug-Lungu also said that the 20 women who are now present in Parliament do much more better things than the 81 men who hold seats of MP. “We should also be correct in terms of opportunities. Regrettably, the male politicians in our country refer more to the role of women in the family, the social sphere and remember about the women in politics during election campaigns that are carried out also by women at the local level as the dialogue with the population is ensured mainly by women,” she stated.
The public debate “Starting position of political parties and potential independent candidates on pro-Eurasian platform before an electoral year”, was the 83rd installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are organized with support from Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation.
The next debate “Starting position of political parties and potential independent candidates on official pro-European platform before an electoral year” was scheduled to take place in the conference hall of IPN News Agency on November 28, starting at 2pm. This is to bring together representatives of the PDM and PPEM and two experts.