Society joins forces to eliminate domestic violence

For the first time during the 14 editions, the opening of the campaign took place in a rural area – Boscana village, Criuleni district. The event started with an orange march – the campaign’s color. On the main street of Boscana village, government representatives, civil society organizations, UN Agencies, and the local people expressed their solidarity to eliminate violence against women and girls.

For the first time, women survivors of domestic violence have spoken publicly about how they managed to overcome violence and about working with other women who are in similar situations.

Rodica Carpenco is one of the ‘positive champions’ who overcame violence and who now supports other women from the “Ariadna” shelter in Drochia town, to take the first step and speak openly about their experiences.

“During 7 months I visited 12 villages, and met with over 100 women. After an honest discussion with us, they gained confidence and told us what was happening in their families. Indeed, it is very hard to take the first step, but they need to know they are being listened to”, said Rodica Carpenco.

Stela Grigoras, the Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family, highlighted the government support in combating this phenomenon.

“Preventing and combating domestic violence and protecting victims of domestic violence is a priority for the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family. Thus, the Ministry enhanced the mechanism for the protection of victims of domestic violence and broadened their rights by approving the draft law amending and supplementing 11 laws on preventing and combating domestic violence. I urge society to join efforts in combating this phenomenon, to be more jointly, more tolerant, more understanding and if we witness a violent action we should break the circle of violence, to take a step towards change!”

The United Nations in Moldova is committed to combating violence against women and girls and supports the government, civil society and survivors of violence in reaching this goal.

“Only the women who experienced and overcame violence know how domestic violence can be eliminated. We are here to join our efforts and work with women survivors of violence, so that other women could follow their successes,” said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Country Representative in Moldova – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

State institutions, the United Nations, other development partners and the civil society are actively involved in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign. Over 80 events will be organised across the country, including discussions in schools, work with police, art exhibitions, discussions in local communities, lighting-up buildings in orange among others.

Launched in 1991, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign starts on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, on the International Day for Human Rights. The campaign has mobilized the efforts of 4,100 organizations in 172 countries.

The launching event of the campaign in Moldova was organized by the Association ‘Casa Marioarei’ in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Family and UN Women Moldova.

In Moldova, 6 women out of 10 experienced at least one type of violence from behalf of their husband or partner during their lifetime. About 10% of women in Moldova were subjected to all forms of violence – physical, sexual, psychological, economic and spiritual.