The Government of Sweden and UN Women signed a new agreement to promote Gender Equality and Women Human Rights in Moldova

The agreement comes in support to the implementation of the UN Women’s Strategic Note for Moldova aiming to continue to empower women in Moldova, especially the most vulnerable groups. The total Swedish contribution is 20 Million Swedish Krona (2.36 million US Dollars).

Although Moldova has achieved important progress, particularly in adjusting its legal framework for better protection from violence, in promoting women’s political participation and representation, eradicating extreme poverty, and other areas, there is still a lot of work to be done. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 63% of women in Moldova have experienced at least one form of violence from their partners (2011 data). There is still considerable wage difference between men and women, and women are still under-represented in politics and in decision making positions.

With the support of Sweden, UN Women Moldova will continue leading its innovative approach to solve inequalities in the three main directions of its work:

• Women in Leadership
• Women Economic Empowerment
• Eliminating Violence Against Women

“The Embassy of Sweden has always viewed UN Women in Moldova as one of its strategic partners. For Sweden gender equality and women’s empowerment is an overall priority for our Government both at home, and in our international development cooperation abroad.

The feminist foreign policy that the Swedish Government is pursuing also translates into actions in the field. Here in Moldova we have been very happy to partner with UN Women for all these years and now our partnership will enter a new phase,” noted Sweden’s Ambassador in Moldova, Signe Burgstaller.

“Sweden and SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) is one of the most important partners for UN Women wherever we work. Gender equality and women’s empowerment is not a quick fix. It is something that you really need to work on long term. It’s a marathon and you need perseverance, conviction and commitment and we need that kind of partners that follow closely our work. UN Women team will walk an extra mile to make this agreement a reality so that we can have an impact for women in Moldova, and also for men. Equality doesn’t only improve the lives of women, it also improves the society as a whole,” said Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, UN Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, present at the event.

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Likewise, Sweden has a long tradition in supporting gender equality and is the world leader in achieving it. UN Women has started the cooperation with Sweden Embassy in 2007 (as UNIFEM).