Officer Ana-Maria Țurcanu: “Peace is not inherited, it is built every day”

Born in 2000 – the year the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 – Senior Lieutenant Ana-Maria Țurcanu from Moldova is part of a generation of women in the armed forces whose example is reshaping how women’s participation in security and defence is understood.

Țurcanu’s military career began in 2019, when she was admitted to the “Alexandru cel Bun” Military Academy in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, where she studied Communications and Information Technology. Three years later, after graduation, she received the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the 1st Motorized Infantry Brigade in Bălți, Moldova’s second-largest city, where she currently serves as Deputy Commander of the Communications and IT Unit. Today, she is one of the few young women serving in command positions within the National Army.

A defining moment in her career was her participation in the multinational KFOR mission - a NATO-led international peacekeeping force and military of Kosovo[1], where she served as the platoon’s senior operator for six months. “The selection was rigorous, the preparation extensive, and the responsibilities significant,” she says. Working alongside servicewomen and servicemen from different countries, she successfully fulfilled all assigned tasks. 

“KFOR taught me how much international cooperation matters,” she says. “I understood that peace is possible only when we work together.” The experience strengthened not only her technical skills but also her understanding of the responsibility everyone carries in maintaining stability and protecting the population, especially in conflict-affected communities. 

After returning home, Ana-Maria Țurcanu continued her military service with the same dedication while maintaining strong family ties. She lives in Corlăteni village, Rîșcani district, is married, and will soon become a mother. Her warmest childhood memories are those of family gatherings around the holiday table, moments in which she felt the most authentic form of peace. Her passion for sports has always complemented her military career. “I have always loved sport and discipline,” she says. “A healthy mind needs a strong body, and in the army this becomes a way of life.” 

Her experiences, both in the National Army and during the KFOR mission, made her more aware of the absence or fragility of peace. For her, the impact is emotional and difficult to ignore, which is why she feels deeply connected to the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the first global document recognizing women as essential actors in conflict prevention, negotiation, and recovery.

Ana-Maria Țurcanu advocates for women’s recognition as contributors and decision-makers in peace processes. Photo: Personal archive

For Ana-Maria Țurcanu, Resolution 1325 represents a continuous commitment: supporting women’s participation in command roles and strategic decision-making and recognizing the transformative role of young women in society. “I believes that young women demonstrate strong competencies and a deep understanding of contemporary realities, from technology to geopolitical developments, yet they are still too often seen as programme beneficiaries rather than experts,” she notes.  

In her view, young people are those who build bridges, dismantle stereotypes, challenge narratives that perpetuate violence, and create safe spaces where these are lacking. 

Ana-Maria Țurcanu champions a model of peace built on trust, participation, and courageous listening, especially to those who traditionally hold less power. Photo: Personal archive

“A world in which Resolution 1325 is fully implemented would be a world where conflicts are prevented. A world where women’s experiences guide strategic decisions, and where the voices of young people are not only heard but also taken into consideration,” she argues. 

This conviction is reflected in her message to leaders around the world: “Peace needs trust, participation, and the courage to listen to those who do not yet have power. Do not forget that peace is not inherited, it is built every day.” 

This story is part of the Born in 2000 storytelling project under the “Women Lead, Peace Follows” campaign, marking 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.