The first resource in the Republic of Moldova dedicated to preventing digital violence against women and girls has been launched – www.eviolenta.md

The new platform offers a safe, user-friendly, and accessible space designed to equip women and girls with concrete tools to recognize, report, and protect themselves against digital abuse. It is directly connected to the Women and Girls Trust Line 0 8008 8008 and to an online counseling chat, where professional counselors provide support and information in a safe and confidential environment.

Viorica Țîmbalari, General Director of the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, emphasized the importance of prevention through information and awareness-raising among women and girls — both about digital violence, a rapidly growing form of abuse amplified by the widespread use of the internet and social media, and about other forms of violence. She also highlighted the need for the entire society to be actively involved in recognizing, preventing, and combating this phenomenon.

“The launch of the online service eviolenta.md is a necessary and significant step that strengthens our efforts to ensure that women and girls have access to clear and accessible information on recognizing abuse, the support services available, and existing protection mechanisms. We aim for this resource to be gradually expanded and further developed so that it becomes a safe point of reference — one that centralizes information and actively contributes to informing and raising awareness across society, because preventing violence is a shared responsibility. The commitments we have made require us to act proactively and firmly move from legislation to implementation, and the role of the Agency is to ensure coordination of this process at the national level so that public policies translate into real protection for every woman,” stated Viorica Țîmbalari.

Elena Botezatu, Executive Director of the International Center “La Strada”, noted that data from a national survey conducted in 2025 show that every third person in the Republic of Moldova has been a victim or witness of a case of digital violence committed against women. As a result of such situations, one in three women experienced mental or emotional harm or felt ashamed, and in every tenth case, their family life or personal relationships were affected. Additionally, 1 in 50 affected women had to change their workplace or suffered physical harm.

“Digital violence is real, digital violence is serious, and today we are here to offer solutions and confidence to women. National data from the Women and Girls Trust Line 0 8008 8008 confirm the scale of this phenomenon. This year alone, we have received more than 2,300 calls, marking a 40 percent increase in cases of violence committed against women — and nearly every third case was facilitated by the use of information and communication technologies. Through the launch of www.eviolenta.md, we aim to make the digital space a safer environment for women and girls in the Republic of Moldova,” emphasized Elena Botezatu.

Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA Representative in Moldova, stated: “For UNFPA, our commitment remains unwavering: every woman and girl must be able to live free from violence — in every space. The specialized platform eviolenta.md will become part of an integrated national system for preventing all forms of gender-based violence, placing online safety as an essential component of protection. UNFPA, as the technical partner, and the Government of the United Kingdom, which provided the essential financial support, are honored to support the authorities of the Republic of Moldova and civil society in achieving this crucial progress for women and girls in the country.”

Fern Horine, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, stated: “The Government of the United Kingdom is very proud to have financially supported the development of the eviolenta.md platform through our long-standing partnership with UNFPA. The launch of this digital service marks another important step in our ongoing commitment to ‘breaking the cycle’ of violence against women and girls. The online resource will provide support and empowerment to survivors, ensuring that no one is left alone. High-quality, nationwide protection systems are not built overnight. The steady collaboration we see here in Moldova among all partners, the private sector, and civil society is truly remarkable.”

Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, mentioned: “I am very pleased to see this platform launched and fully functional. It is an extremely necessary tool for reporting, as victims of violence often do not have the opportunity to make a phone call. I thank our partners who made the launch of this platform possible — especially needed in the context of the increasing cases of digital violence. No woman should have to endure violence, and everyone must be safe both online and offline.”

Daniella Misail-Nichitin, Minister of Internal Affairs, who attended the event, presented the institutional response to digital violence and explained the new legal tools that will come into effect in February 2026. These measures strengthen the state’s capacity to intervene quickly in cases of digital violence and provide authorities with clear mechanisms to protect victims. “Online violence is a complex phenomenon, and the first 24 hours are crucial. The new provisions allow us to quickly remove or block abusive content to prevent its spread. But we need people to report it — silence has serious consequences, and shame belongs to the perpetrators, not the victims,” said Minister Misail-Nichitin.

Nicoleta Colomeeț, Director of the Agency for Electronic Governance, stated: “I know what digital violence means not just from what I’ve heard — I have experienced it personally, and I know how it feels and how important it is to have timely access to information and support. We are glad to have such a useful resource and welcome the development of digital solutions. The Agency will work with ANPCV, La Strada, UNFPA, as well as other institutions such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to support the interconnection of systems so that data can flow proactively between institutions and platforms through the MConnect interoperability platform. At the same time, we will launch a call for contributions for a dedicated life event, which will be published on the integrated EVO portal next year, where all information needed by those in difficulty will be centralized.”

Globally, 85% of women report having witnessed a case of digital violence directed at another woman, yet only 1 in 4 actually report the abuse they experience online. Additionally, 78% of women are unaware of the options available to report harmful behavior in digital spaces.

Online harassment, digital blackmail, unauthorized access to data, sharing intimate images without consent, or online stalking are not just virtual incidents — they are real forms of violence against women, with emotional, psychological, and social consequences.

In the first ten months of this year, “La Strada” assisted with 67 cases of digital violence, including 19 cases against girls, 1 case against a boy, 40 cases against women, and 7 cases against men. These cases involved:

• Online harassment through the publication of defamatory messages;
• Distribution of defamatory messages about a person via fake accounts;
• Recording videos or photos without consent and using them for blackmail or threats;
• Posting intimate images or materials of a person for revenge or humiliation;
• Creating and publishing sexually explicit images or videos generated using artificial intelligence.

The eviolenta.md platform represents an important step for the Republic of Moldova towards European standards and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and GREVIO recommendations, by ensuring access to information and protection against all forms of violence — both online and offline.

It is worth noting that 16 years ago, the Women and Girls Trust Line 0 8008 8008, designed, created, and managed by the International Center “La Strada,” began providing continuous support and dialogue for women and girls silently experiencing various forms of violence. Since 2017, it has been a national public service, funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova. Over the years and to date, the Women and Girls Trust Line has received 30,635 calls.