The UN Resident Coordinator for the Republic of Moldova Mr. Simon Springett at the Women Lead The Way Strengthening a localized and gender responsive approach to refugee response and peacebuilding conference

I am so happy to have the opportunity to join you today, and I cant think of a more adapt title of an international conference – Women Lead the Way!

We are gathered here in Chisinau at a critical juncture, as Moldova faces compounding challenges: the influx of refugees from Ukraine, the economy, and energy – all intensified by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Government of Moldova, UN agencies, local and international organizations joined forces in an unpreceded manner to respond to the effects of the crises alongside development cooperation and peacebuilding work through providing assistance to both refugees and host communities, strengthening national systems, and investing in supporting social cohesion between the refugee and local population.​ We are proud that in Moldova, that the response to crisis has focused on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus from the outset.

It is no surprise that globally, women make up a significant portion of refugees and displaced persons, constituting nearly 50% of the refugee population. Over 40% of the half a million humanitarian workers are women. Despite this, women’s participation in decision-making in humanitarian and peace settings remains limited.

According to UN Women, only 4% of signatories in major peace processes from 1992 to 2019 were women. Which is counterintuitive, as studies show that peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years if women participate in their creation. Deeply embedded discrimination against women at the organizational, cultural, social, financial and political levels is exacerbated in conflict and makes it more challenging for women to participate and progress in these settings.

The UN is committed to changing this narrative through dedicated and tireless efforts in advancement of gender equality and fostering women's leadership and meaningful participation.

Gender equality is not just a matter of social justice but also a critical component for a country's stability, security, and economic development.

We believe in the power of women as agents of change. The presence of women in positions of leadership can greatly improve the efficiency and inclusiveness of the refugee response, reduce the likelihood of tensions and violent conflicts, as well enhance the prospects for the peaceful resolution of the existing conflicts. 

In Moldova, the mobilisation of women organizations and the establishment of the Gender Task Force has been instrumental in mainstreaming gender equality into humanitarian action and providing a dedicated platform for refugee women and women's organizations in the refugee response.

To elevate the voices and needs of women in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, UN Women with support of UN-DPPA, and in coordination with OSCE established a Women’s Advisory Board that includes 14 women CSO representatives from both the right and left banks. Yet, much work remains to be done.

The conference aims to address the multitude of issues around women leadership and agency by focusing on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and its relevance within the humanitarian-peace nexus. As we engage in dialogue over the next two days, let us remember that the long-term development and stability of Moldova hinge on our collective efforts to mainstream gender equality and empower women in all aspects of our lives.

To conclude, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your dedication and commitments to the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and to call for concerted efforts to increase women representation in refugee response, conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution efforts.