Moldova takes over experience of Austria in promoting women in politics and gender responsive budgeting

The event was organized due to the visit to Moldova of a delegation formed by 11 representatives of the Austrian Parliament, who want to start and maintain an open dialogue with colleagues from the Parliament of Moldova and experts in promoting gender equality.

Ulziisuren Jamsran, country representative of UN Women in Moldova, expressed her gratitude for the privilege to host this event. "Especially at this time when Moldova can proudly share its own successes and lessons learned in the process of women`s advancement in politics and decision-making positions. I would also like to thank you for the opportunity to work with the Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation of the Austrian Embassy in Moldova more than 7 years," said Ulziisuren Jamsran.

Member of the Austrian Parliament and president of the Committee for Development, Petra Bayr, thanked for the opportunity to participate in this exchange of experience on the women`s promotion in politics and decision-making processes. "Moldova has made significant steps in ensuring gender equality, and I'm convinced that the involvement of women at every stage in the decision-making processes can indeed make a difference. And it is a very positive signal that Moldova adopted Law no. 71, which provides gender quotas in decision making positions, but also amendments to other legislative acts for ensuring gender equality", pointed out Petra Bayr.

In turn, Liliana Palihovici, Vice-president of the Moldovan Parliament, reiterated that, indeed, there are some changes in society and in Moldovan legislation, but there is still much work to do for the changing mindset and mentality, which is more difficult to realize. "That’s why we hope to continue this cooperation and fight together in promoting the idea of ​​gender equality and the importance of equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes," stated the Vice-president.

Present at the event, Stela Grigoraș, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family, expressed her gratitude to international partners for their support on the amendment of the legislative framework for ensuring gender equality. "However, we need a cultural change, so that people understand what it really means gender equality and we must support women to become promoters of their rights in the society, and this involves a lot of effort. Of course, we cannot do this overnight, but we are on good track," mentioned Stela Grigoraş.

Subsequently, Petra Bayr, president of the Committee for Development in the Austrian Parliament, presented best practices in politics and gender responsive budgeting in Austria. While members of civil society and academia in Moldova have expressed, in turn, their views on the current state of women`s advancement in politics, but also the integration of gender responsive budgeting in policy and practices in Moldova.

The dialogue between members of both legislative and civil society representatives and academia from Moldova was organized by the Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation of the Austrian Embassy in Moldova, in partnership with UN Women Moldova.