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Story
20 May 2024
The Role of Community Mediators in the Integration of Roma Refugees in Moldova
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Press Release
16 May 2024
The use of micro-credentials for lifelong learning will help Moldovans to adapt to the changing world of work
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Press Release
14 May 2024
UN Women Executive Board undertakes a pivotal mission to Moldova and Ukraine
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Moldova
In September 2015, the Republic of Moldova, alongside with 192 Member States of the United Nations committed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future having at its heart the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030" (NDS) as well as the Government Action Plan ”Building a European Moldova” describe the short, medium and long-term strategic development vision of the country synchronizing the priorities, objectives, indicators and targets of international commitments taken by the Republic of Moldova, including the ones set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the national context.
The Sustainable Development Goals are being monitored and evaluated by the United Nations Country Team through the Country Results Reports developed in coordination with the Government.
As of 2022, the Government has committed to monitor and report annually on the level of achievement of the SDGs in the country which allows the state to make necessary interventions to adjust and/or accelerate the pace of SDGs implementation.
Publication
29 April 2024
Leveraging the Synergies of the EU Accession and the SDGs for the Sustainable Development of Moldova
The United Nations in Moldova, the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the EU Delegation have mapped the synergies between the EU accession process and the SDGs under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the analysis, there is a strong complementarity and synergy between the EU accession agenda, the 2030 Agenda and SDGs as mutually reinforcing processes. The mapping shows that 128 SDG targets (76%) are connected to individual EU accession negotiation chapters or clusters. Moreover, out of 111 of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2027 indicators, 93% are linked to the policy recommendations from the 2023 European Commission (EC) report.
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Publication
03 April 2024
2023 United Nations Country Annual Results Report, Republic of Moldova
In 2023, UN Moldova Country Team, formed of 24 UN agencies, funds programmes and other UN entities, together with its partners, made progress in all four strategic directions of its work, by advancing human rights and gender equality, strengthening institutional and governance capacities, improving the quality of education, health services, and social assistance, and enhancing local services and infrastructure, improving access to decent work, and promoting climate change resilient development.The year 2023 was marked by the launch of the new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 as well as Moldova being given the candidate status for the EU accession.Through a coordinate approach the UN Moldova assisted the country in reaching its national development objectives, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and pursuing the aspiration of becoming a European Union country in the context of multiple crises generated by the war. “The UN remains a strong and reliable partner to the Government of Moldova. In 2023, the UNCT supported the launch of several ambitious social reforms, including Moldova's social assistance system reform, labour market reforms, and early childcare reform, aimed at improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations. At the heart of all our efforts, always, are the people of Moldova, particularly women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, old people, and others.” mentioned Simon Springett, Resident Coordinator of UN in Moldova.
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Publication
09 May 2024
Assessment of WASH facilities in Moldovan schools
UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, conducted a comprehensive assessment of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities with the participation of 968 schools, representing more than 80% of the total number of educational institutions in Moldova.The intervention took place from October 2023 - February 2024, with active and voluntary participation from institution managers who previously attended orientation sessions. They were briefed on the technical aspects requiring monitoring to ensure minimum WASH standards for students and staff. The data collected serves as the basis for developing medium and long-term intervention plans and mobilizing the financial resources necessary to improve WASH conditions in schools.This voluntary assessment exercise is part of the Rehabilitation and Construction of Sanitary Blocks in Schools Programme, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Research and UNICEF and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The content of the publication belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the donor’s vision.
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Publication
08 May 2024
Local elections 2023: between perceptions and realities. An analysis of local elections in the Republic of Moldova from gender equality perspective
This report is drafted by the Partnership for Development Centre, in partnership with the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), IM Swedish Development Partner Lund Branch Moldova, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the United Nations Development Programme. The Centre for Partnership for Development (CPD) has been monitoring parliamentary and local elections for about 15 years, analysing women's representation in elections, voter perceptions, political party funding, etc. with the aim of highlighting the main inequalities in terms of women's and men's participation in electoral processes; society's perceptions of women's presence in political life, etc. As part of the observation mission for the 2023 general local elections, CPD aimed to analyse trends in relation to previous elections. Specifically, in the monitoring process, the CPD focused on: the representation of men and women on the lists of candidates: compliance with the 40% minimum representation quota for both sexes when drawing up the lists of candidates for the local elections and the positioning of candidates on the lists, in accordance with the latest legislative provision (minimum of four candidates of the opposite sex for every ten seats); the income and economic possibilities of women and men candidates: analysis of the income statements of candidates for mayor and correlation with their presence on the lists of candidates;access of candidates, especially women, to the media (analysis of four types of media products: news, talk shows, election debates and advertisements, the aim being to identify the level of presence of female candidates in the TV media during the election campaign and to correlate this indicator with their presence on the candidate lists); voters' perceptions of female and male candidates (this analysis is based on a survey in which respondents give their opinions on the presence of women and men in politics, gender roles in family, household, and society and how this role influences the involvement of women and men in politics).
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Publication
11 April 2024
Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024
The world is facing a sustainable development crisis. The 2024 Financing for Sustainable Development Report: Financing for Development at a Crossroads finds that financing challenges are at the heart of the crisis and imperil the SDGs and climate action. The window to rescue the SDGs and prevent a climate catastrophe is still open but closing rapidly.Financing gaps for sustainable development are large and growing – the estimates by international organizations and others are coalescing around $4 trillion additional investment needed annually for developing countries. This represents a more than 50% increase over the pre-pandemic estimates. Meanwhile, the finance divide has not been bridged, with developing countries paying around twice as much on average in interest on their total sovereign debt stock as developed countries. Many countries lack access to affordable finance or are in debt distress.Weak enabling environments are preventing progress. Average global growth has declined, while policy and regulatory frameworks still do not set appropriate incentives. Public budgets and spending is not fully aligned with SDGs. Private investors are not incentivised to invest enough in SDGs and climate action.The world is at a crossroads. This is the last chance to correct course if we want to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline. Only an urgent, large-scale and sustainable investment push can help us achieve our global goals. Next year’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 will be a once in 80-year opportunity to support coherent transformation of financing. Four actions are needed:Close financing gaps for SDG/climate investments (both public and private) at scale and with urgency;Close policy and architecture gaps, and reform international institutions;Close credibility gaps and trust deficits both international and domestically; andFormulate and finance new development pathways.
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Story
20 May 2024
The Role of Community Mediators in the Integration of Roma Refugees in Moldova
Some of them have found safety here and continue to live in Moldova while awaiting the end of the war. People forced to leave their homes are in a vulnerable position, with Roma refugees, as ethnic minorities, being even more so. Like in many countries worldwide, in Moldova, both local Roma and Roma refugees remain among the most marginalized groups, facing discrimination and violations of their human rights.Since June 2023, UN Human Rights Moldova has been implementing the project "Improving the protection response and the equal access to services and assistance for refugees with specific needs and the most vulnerable host community members in Moldova, including the left bank of the Nistru River," funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (DG-ECHO). As part of the project, OHCHR has undertaken an assessment to understand if some groups of refugees from Ukraine have faced discrimination in Moldova. In this context, OHCHR studied the situation of Roma refugees through focus group discussions with both Roma refugees and Roma community mediators on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. OHCHR found that mediators, who as part of their function work directly with the Roma community, play a significant role in overcoming inequality and ensuring access to rights and services for Roma refugees.Silviana Feraru "I have been working as a mediator since 2014, I have assisted Roma refugees from Ukraine not only as a mediator but also as an NGO worker. Unfortunately, I have witnessed many facts of discrimination against Roma refugees, especially related to accommodation in Refugee Accommodation Centres. Roma refugees often faced refusal of accommodation as well as neglect. They turn to us for help and we, being a bridge between them and the local authorities, help them to solve their problems. We (mediators) are also actively involved in the processes of school enrolment of Roma refugee children and distribution of humanitarian aid to make these processes more transparent and based on equality".Silviana, one among 49 Roma mediators, is an employee of the National Association of Roma Community Mediators. A community mediator is an employee of the local public administration authority in villages, communes, and towns, where there is a large Roma community, and who carries out his, her or their official duties in relation to the community of the respective locality.According to the president of the National Association of Roma Community Mediators, Valeriu Caldararu, the institution of Roma mediators has been functioning on the right bank of Dniester/Nistru River since 2013 and over these years has shown its effectiveness. The Roma community in Moldova trusts mediators and turns to them when they face discrimination and violations of their rights. The work of Roma mediators has increased the integration of Roma into society, while raising their awareness of their rights and entitlements. This became especially evident when Roma mediators started working with Roma refugees from Ukraine and saw that Roma refugees were surprised to find Roma mediators offering their assistance. Institution of Roma Community Mediators on the left bank of the Dniester.In 2021, with support from UN Human Rights, the Institution of Roma Community Mediators was established on the left bank of the Dniester/Nistru River with the aim of improving access to human rights for members of the Roma community. Currently, it comprises 6 mediators from different districts who, like their colleagues from the right bank of the Dniester/Nistru River, have been redirecting part of their work towards Roma refugees from Ukraine since their first days of arrival from Ukraine.Vasilisa Avtutova is one of six Roma community mediators on the left bank of Dniester/Nistru River."I have been working with local Roma since 2018, I started my work as a volunteer and in 2021 I became a Roma community mediator. I know all the challenges and difficulties faced by both local Roma and Roma refugees. In the first days of the war, we, the mediators, were among those who came to the support of Roma refugees. Unfortunately, they faced discrimination in various areas, but access to health care and labor was particularly difficult. I witnessed many cases where Roma refugees were denied access to health care because of their ethnicity and the fact that they were refugees. In these situations, they contacted me, and I accompanied them to the health center together and helped them in solving their problems. Unfortunately, many Roma refugees are not educated, do not know their rights, and even if they do, they cannot claim them. In these cases, they cannot manage without the help of Roma community mediators. In the labor sphere there is also a lot of discrimination against both local Roma and refugees, they are either directly told by potential employers that they do not want to employ them because of their ethnicity, or they answer, "we will call you back" and of course nobody calls back. It is especially difficult for Roma women, both local and refugee, to get a job, as it is immediately obvious that she is Roma - our clothes, skirts and dresses give us away. Men sometimes manage to hide the fact that they are Roma and are hired, but when the employer realizes that the employee is Roma, he or she is dismissed. Discrimination has led to the fact that Roma have to hide that they are Roma and pretend to be from other ethnic groups". The importance of mediators in working with refugees is also noted by the coordinator of the Institute of Roma Community Mediators, Sofia Reducanu: "The Institution of Roma Community Mediators is of great importance in the life of the Roma community. Since refugees from Ukraine have been arriving on the territory of the left bank, mediators have been helping them. Their most urgent needs are documentation, assistance with housing, medicine, social assistance, and humanitarian aid".UN Human Rights Moldova assessment found that for Roma refugees, cooperation with mediators represented a significant step in receiving protection and support. Roma refugees on both banks of Dniester/Nistru River receive invaluable assistance from community mediators who represent their interests and provide practical support. Mediators not only help them in finding housing, receiving medical care, or finding employment, but also raise their awareness of their rights and provide them with the tools to claim them in a new socio-cultural context.In addition, co-operation with mediators improves the interaction of Roma refugees with local authorities and society in general. Through mediation, dialogue and mutual understanding between the different parties is established, which contributes to a more effective resolution of problems and conflicts.The new experience of co-operation also paves the way for a more inclusive society where the rights and needs of all groups, including Roma refugees, are considered, and protected. Such initiatives can serve as an example for other countries and regions where Roma refugees face similar challenges but lack the support of community mediators. UN Human Rights gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid for the implementation of this project in Moldova.Read the story in Russian language.
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Story
08 May 2024
Artisanal cheese or how taste sets the tone in a family business
Feodor and Olga Cerneavscaia returned to their hometown in 2011 because they couldn't deal with their homesickness and even the taste of the food wasn't "like home" either after nine years living abroad. Since then, in addition to their basic work, they've been looking for a family business idea. That's how the artisanal cheese-making workshop was born. The business benefits from support of the European Union, offered through the Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.For more than a year now, Saturday and Sunday have also been working days dedicated to the artisanal cheese workshop. "There are two ways to have a healthy diet: either you earn a lot of money and you can afford it, or you prepare it by yourself. We chose the option of preparing it on our own and even making a profit out of it," mentions Olga Cerneavscaia. The Cerneavschii family are self-confessed gourmets. "I'm an accountant, my husband makes PVC windows, we had nothing to do with food technology and at the beginning, we trained in the kitchen. After that we understood that this process completely took us over, because it's a very creative process," notes Olga. Her accounting experience was a great help in crafting a business plan, which she submitted to the competition launched by the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP. With the support of the programme, Olga received milk processing equipment worth €15,000. This is how the boiler, mixer, cooling tank, moulds, and other necessary tools made their appearance in the production workshop. Entrepreneurship with taste, or how to make cheese fit for sale!"This is our very first cheese; it was produced on 30 or 31 May last year and will be a year old soon. This layer is not edible, it needs to be removed. We cut it few days ago and tasted it, its taste qualities are far from ideal," explains Olga.For each batch of cheese, the Cerneavschii family buys around 500-550 kg of milk from a small farmers' association in the region. On cheese production day, Olga takes care of every step, the first one being a calculation on paper. After the milk is pasteurized, the ingredients are added with great care, at precise intervals and in a well-established proportion. "In our production, we only use natural products because we didn't want to make one more type of cheese out of the dozens. We have quite a few authentic and natural cheeses on sale, which is why we only use natural ingredients, natural colourings, which we add in minimal quantities, just to get the colour of the cheese that consumers are used to."Olga buys the other ingredients such as natural ferments, lipase, coagulants from Italy. From all the milk used, the family Cerneavschii produces about 50 kilograms of artisanal cheese. "When we were experimenting, we got a very interesting cheese, it was even recognized as 'hard cheese'. It was very tasty and we got it absolutely by chance. Now I'm practising the production technology to replicate that cheese, because people really liked it."From setting up the production workshop to getting the cheese into shop windows was a long and demanding process. But since January 2024, the workshop has been producing cheese 2-3 times a month and it has been reaching shops in Tighina (Bender) and, more recently, Tiraspol. "In our production we focus on Italian caciotta cheese. What makes it good? Its maturing period is short, caciotta can be eaten after the first five days of fermentation and as time goes by, its taste intensifies."The rich yet smooth taste combines wonderfully with the various ingredients, leaving plenty of room for creativity, which Olga loves. To provide customers with more types of cheese, Olga kept experimenting. She tested fenugreek seeds in a small batch of cheese and the taste of the combination was far beyond expectations. The fenugreek seeds gave the cheese a nutty taste and the first consumers asked Olga to repeat the experience and put the new type of cheese on sale. The hard and paprika-flaked cheeses are now to be launched.
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Story
08 May 2024
Why does everybody in the Roma community from Dubossary know Margarita?
She has always been the go-to person in her family, offering a helping hand to those in need, either with seeking documentation or translation of a document, writing or reading official letters. "I enjoy working with people, and if there's an opportunity to provide assistance, or if my knowledge can be of use somewhere, I am always open," she remarks.With her desire to make a difference for the Roma community and her love for people, Margarita found her calling when she was offered the position of community mediator in the city of Dubossary, in the Transnistrian region, her hometown. The Roma population in Dubossary is about 100 persons. Reflecting on her early experiences, Margarita shares, "I had long heard about people who help the Roma community, but I didn't know the exact term for this profession. A Roma community mediator is a person from the Roma ethnicity, who promotes the Roma community's access to public services in the fields of health, education, social security, employment, documentation, and other human rights. Though relatively new in this field – having started only in January 2024, Margarita firmly believes that this is her true calling. She says, "I believe I am effectively carrying out my responsibilities, and I consider my choice to work with the Roma community a rewarding one." And her commitment to making a positive impact within the community has not gone unnoticed. "Thanks to my work as a mediator, many Roma from the community in our city, have found the courage to address longstanding problems and seek advice on specific matters," she adds with pride.In her role as a mediator, Margarita diligently fulfills her duties, overseeing areas such as healthcare, documentation, social welfare, and education. "Every day, I ensure that women are registered for and attend regular check-ups at the health centers, and I oversee the vaccination of children," she explains. Her work also extends to assisting individuals in obtaining personal identification documents and providing help with diverse document-related issues. Moreover, she passionately supports Roma in various aspects, including support for accessing aid for vulnerable families and ensuring refugee registration for humanitarian aid. Margarita's dedication and the impact of her work in these past three months passed without significant challenges. "I hope that the future will be equally smooth," she says optimistically.Today, Margarita is one of the six Roma community mediators, who are active on the left bank of the Nistru/ Dniester River. They exchange closely with the 48 community mediators from the right bank of the Nistru/ Dniester. The Roma community mediators' institution on the left bank is a network created and supported by UN Human Rights Moldova together with its cross-river partner the CSO “Shatior over Nistru” and the National Community Mediators Association.The continuous support received under this framework has been instrumental in Margarita's growth and development, she recalls. "The funding and organization of various seminars and continuous learning opportunities have been invaluable for our growth and development," she says with gratitude. By actively participating in joint training sessions and seminars with other mediators, she continues to gain valuable knowledge while sharing experiences with her counterparts from both banks of the Nistru/ Dniester river.As she continues her journey, Margarita aspires to acquire more knowledge and apply it effectively to make problem-solving easier for her community. She aspires to make a substantial contribution to the development of the Roma community, ensuring that they are not left behind and progress is made alongside other communities.Margarita's story is emblematic of the efforts to empower the Roma community, as part of the One UN Joint Action "Cross-river support to Human Rights", implemented by the United Nations in Moldova and funded by Sweden.
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Story
08 May 2024
From a passion for flowers to a climate resilient business
Now, at 52, Maria Josan from Ciorești village, Nisporeni district, has seen her dream come true. Maria Josan is a mother of three and has always taken care of the household. Since it’s harder to find a job in rural areas, she decided to build a few small greenhouses in her backyard and make a living from farming, just like her parents did. “Agriculture runs through my veins,” says the woman. Helped by her family, Maria Josan started growing tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers seedlings in greenhouses, then moved on to growing vegetables. Two years ago, her youngest daughter, aged 14, found out on social media about a competition launched by the “Sustainable and resilient communities through women empowerment” UNDP project with financial assistance from Sweden. Knowing about her mother’s passion for flowers, she urged her to participate. They both wrote the project proposal and hoped to win in the competition and use the money to make some adjustments to the greenhouses in order to grow flowers all year round. The greenhouses of Josan family had no central heating system and were heated with a makeshift stove. They had a hard time, when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees outside and the greenhouse had to be heated twice a day. They were delighted when they won the competition. With the US$4,375 offered by Sweden under the “Sustainable and resilient communities through women empowerment” UNDP project, a biomass boiler, pumps, expansion vessels, and a water tank were installed in the Josan family’s greenhouse. This way, all the conditions for the flowers to grow in the greenhouse were created. The new purchases now help the family cope both with crises and with climate change. In addition, thanks to the assistance received under the project, Maria Josan has managed to reduce carbon emissions by 21.5 tonnes per year and to make a better use of the waste resulting from economic activity and thus to optimise the production costs. In addition to financial assistance, the entrepreneur also benefited from business mentoring and training in applying sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices: the use of green energy and energy efficient technologies. Thus, Maria Josan produces compost from household waste, which she uses as a natural fertilizer for the greenhouse, collects rainwater to irrigate her three greenhouses and uses branches and vine waste for heating. The project also helped Maria Josan to register her economic activity and expand the sales market. “Although producers come accross many obstacles, they do not give up. They work hard to obtain the results they want. More than 15 species of flowers are planted in the greenhouse. The investments are big, but the satisfaction of a business in which the whole family is involved is even bigger,” says Maria Josan. Her younger daughter sells the products on social media. “With small steps, we move forward,” says Maria. The entrepreneur believes that women in rural areas need to be more self-confident and not be afraid of consequences. “If you work hard, everything turns out the way you want it to,” is her belief.Maria Josan is one of the 120 women who received mentoring and equipment worth up to US$4,400 from Sweden under the “Sustainable and resilient communities through women empowerment” UNDP project to initiate economic activities resilient to climate change in their households. The beneficiaries were selected during two public competitions organized by the UNDP project, involving women from Nisporeni, Călărași, Basarabeasca, Leova, Dubăsari, ATU Găgăuzia and Transnistrian region. Beneficiaries have successfully launched and are developing businesses in various fields such as beekeeping, livestock, and poultry farming, manure management, medicinal plant growing and processing, greenhouse vegetable growing, and other income-generating economic activities that are resilient to climate and economic crises.
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Story
08 May 2024
English lessons for talented and capable children in the districts of Moldova
Eugenia Caracas, from Ungheni, is the founder of “Better Version personal development Center” which offers English courses for both adults and children, including arithmetic, robotics, school preparation courses. The Center was founded in 2019, and the first branch was opened in Calarasi. The feedback was positive and immediate, and the branches in Hincesti, Cahul were opened, as well as in Ungheni in 2023.“One of the reasons for opening these centres is that we wanted to apply the knowledge we have accumulated over time, including abroad, bringing quality education to as many talented and capable children as possible in the districts of Moldova where there are fewer opportunities for the children."
“We applied for the IOM small business grant program. The support we received was a substantial financial contribution (7000,00 US dollars), which helped us operate the Cahul and Ungheni centres”.One of the five teachers is a migrant from the United Kingdom, Samantha Sandu:“Interacting with children and see them grow in confidence and encouragement to speak English is my favorite part of my job. And I love it when they have a beautiful English accent. Do you want them to learn English well? Teach in a fun way. It motivates them to keep learning English, and not to be put off by it.”“I came to Moldova 20 years ago to work in a children’s camp in the village of Risipeni and then to teach English in the local school. In this village, I met my husband. We first lived in England for the first 12 years and then decided to return here.""Moldova is very dangerous, and I say to anybody who visits it to be careful: Moldova gets into your heart and it doesn't leave. That happened to me when I was 20, and it never left.”
***The "Better Version Personal Development Center” is one of the 29 small businesses owned by Ukrainian refugees and Moldovans which received an IOM small business grant thanks to the generous financial support of U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration within the “Ukraine Response to support refugees from Ukraine across Europe” project.
“We applied for the IOM small business grant program. The support we received was a substantial financial contribution (7000,00 US dollars), which helped us operate the Cahul and Ungheni centres”.One of the five teachers is a migrant from the United Kingdom, Samantha Sandu:“Interacting with children and see them grow in confidence and encouragement to speak English is my favorite part of my job. And I love it when they have a beautiful English accent. Do you want them to learn English well? Teach in a fun way. It motivates them to keep learning English, and not to be put off by it.”“I came to Moldova 20 years ago to work in a children’s camp in the village of Risipeni and then to teach English in the local school. In this village, I met my husband. We first lived in England for the first 12 years and then decided to return here.""Moldova is very dangerous, and I say to anybody who visits it to be careful: Moldova gets into your heart and it doesn't leave. That happened to me when I was 20, and it never left.”
***The "Better Version Personal Development Center” is one of the 29 small businesses owned by Ukrainian refugees and Moldovans which received an IOM small business grant thanks to the generous financial support of U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration within the “Ukraine Response to support refugees from Ukraine across Europe” project.
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Press Release
16 May 2024
The use of micro-credentials for lifelong learning will help Moldovans to adapt to the changing world of work
Micro-credentials are a set of learning outcomes acquired within a short timeframe, typically through a short course or training. They offer a flexible, targeted way to help people develop the knowledge, skills and competences they need for their personal and professional development. Micro-credentials are designed to be accessible, flexible and of short duration, allowing the workforce to quickly improve or develop certain skills for updating, upskilling and re-orienting their professional profiles.The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research (MER), the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), the National Employment Agency (NEA), the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC), VET institutions, Centres of Excellence, the National Confederation of Employers, the National Confederation of Trade Unions, the Association Education for Development (AED), as well as representatives of other relevant organizations.Galina Rusu, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Research, mentioned that the introduction of micro-credentials for lifelong learning will be a milestone for enabling employees and job seekers in the Republic of Moldova to adapt better to the ever-changing skills needs of the world of work. "The expertise of the International Labor Organization will be of real use to us in order to fully capitalize on the advantages of this approach and implement them in our country in the shortest possible time, so that the population can benefit from a better quality of professional and vocational training, which will respond to the requirements of the labour market", stated Galina Rusu.During the workshop, the international experience regarding the opportunities to implement the micro-credentials for lifelong learning was analysed. Mary Lyons, Director of the State Agency for Continuous Vocational Education and Training of Ireland and Heli Mattisen, the Head of the Agency for the Quality of Education of Estonia, presented their countries' experience and perspectives on how to use of micro-credentials for the upskilling and re-training of adult workers. Anastasia Pouliou from the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) spoke to the audience about the value of micro-credentials for the labour market, the regulatory framework and quality assurance in the process of micro-credentials implementation.Workshop participants analysed the pre-requisites, requirements and standards needed to ensure transparency, comparability, recognition, and implementation of micro-credentials in the Republic of Moldova to achieve their purpose and discussed options for initiating the use of Microcredentials in the country.Guided by the ILO experts Alessandra Molz and Pedro Moreno da Fonseca, based on a comparative analysis of different approaches at country level, the workshop participants discussed the particularities of introducing micro-credentials in vocational education in the Republic of Moldova, as a defining element of a complex and effective lifelong learning system.Violeta Vrabie, ILO project coordinator, email: vrabie@ilo.org, tel.: + (373) 78 11 33 90
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Press Release
14 May 2024
UN Women Executive Board undertakes a pivotal mission to Moldova and Ukraine
In Moldova, the Executive Board will hold meetings with key stakeholders, government officials, civil society organizations, and women entrepreneurs to discuss initiatives supporting ending violence against women, women's economic empowerment and peacebuilding.
In Ukraine, the Executive Board will meet government representatives, civil society organizations, and women entrepreneurs to discuss gender-responsive recovery efforts, women's economic empowerment, and peacebuilding initiatives.
In Ukraine, the Executive Board will meet government representatives, civil society organizations, and women entrepreneurs to discuss gender-responsive recovery efforts, women's economic empowerment, and peacebuilding initiatives.
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Press Release
08 May 2024
UN Women opens three childcare centers in northern Moldova to support women and their families
Marina Morozova, member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, expressed her joy at seeing the country open and renovate more childcare centers. “This is the result of efforts by the Government of Moldova and development partners,” she said. “We thank UN Women and Sweden for creating better conditions for our children and providing greater opportunities for parents, particularly mothers, to reintegrate into the workforce."Alexei Buzu, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, emphasized the idea that everyone benefits when countries have more high-quality childcare services. “First and foremost, children benefit by socializing and developing their skills more quickly,” he said. “Additionally, parents can more easily balance family and professional life.""Through investments in early childhood care services, Sweden aims to build a more prosperous future and a stronger economic market in the Republic of Moldova,” said H.E. Katarina Fried, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova. “This not only provides opportunities for children but also for parents, enabling them to fully integrate into the labour market and contribute to economic growth."Dominika Stojanoska, the Country Representative of UN Women Moldova, reiterated this idea. "We invest in childcare services with the aim of facilitating the return of parents, especially mothers, to the labour market,” she said. “The lack of daycare facilities is one of the biggest barriers for mothers to (re)enter the workforce and achieve financial independence." With limited options for childcare, women are often constrained to choosing jobs that offer fewer working hours per week, resulting in lower incomes. More options for early childcare services will provide women with the opportunity to access jobs with higher earning potential.Alongside expanding public daycare services, and in support of the National Program for Childcare Services 2023-2026, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted the Law on Alternative Childcare Services in December 2022, with the goal of diversifying services for children under age three. This law introduced three legal forms of private childcare, contributing to the improvement of childcare services:
• Workplace childcare services
• Family-type childcare services
• Individualized childcare services
The renovation and equipping of childcare centers in northern Moldova involved a total investment of USD $60,000 from UN Women, made possible through financial support from the Government of Sweden, which consistently supports initiatives for women's empowerment and gender equality. Through these initiatives, UN Women Moldova aims to enhance economic opportunities for women and facilitate their access to the labor market, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of communities and society.
• Workplace childcare services
• Family-type childcare services
• Individualized childcare services
The renovation and equipping of childcare centers in northern Moldova involved a total investment of USD $60,000 from UN Women, made possible through financial support from the Government of Sweden, which consistently supports initiatives for women's empowerment and gender equality. Through these initiatives, UN Women Moldova aims to enhance economic opportunities for women and facilitate their access to the labor market, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of communities and society.
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Press Release
02 May 2024
United Nations commitment to ending gender-based violence
According to the second joint UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Women global research on gender-related killings of women and girls, the number of women and girls killed intentionally in 2022 reached nearly 89,000 - the highest yearly number recorded in 20 years. While overall homicide numbers globally have started to fall after a peak in 2021, the number of female homicides is not decreasing. Most of these killings of women and girls are gender-related, and more than half of all female homicides are committed by intimate partners or other family members.In the Republic of Moldova, data from the NGO Women Law Center, 45 women were victims of femicide between 2022-23. These women were killed as a result of gender-based violence, or only because they were women. The United Nations in Moldova remains committed to further support the Parliament, the Government of the Republic of Moldova, judiciary and law enforcement, as well as Civil Society Organizations in the implementation of human rights norms and standards. These are enshrined in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5.2 targets), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the International Convention of the Rights of the Child, and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The Republic of Moldova acceded to these treaties, committing itself to their implementation. The United Nations in the Republic of Moldova stands ready to work closely with the expert community in further aligning the national legislation with international standards, the Istanbul Convention and the new EU Directive of the European Parliament and of the EU Council on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The United Nations supports the collective initiative to act now. We reiterate that together with all national state actors, civil society, National Human Rights Institutions, international organizations, educational institutions, media and the private sector, the United Nations will continue to work tirelessly to end this serious human rights violation. Furthermore, we stand united to create an environment where every woman and girl can live free from violence, discrimination, and harmful practices leveraging the power of data to address the underlying causes of gender inequality, will contribute to reducing the incidence of gender-related killings and creating a more just and equitable world for all.Prevention needs to be strengthened, protection mechanisms progressively enhanced, including through timely access to essential services. Victims like Ana-Maria and many survivors of gender-based violence need justice and support, while perpetrators need to be held accountable. We remain united in challenging harmful social norms, in promoting gender equality and eliminating gender-based violence, so that every woman and girl lives a life in dignity and equality.
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Press Release
08 May 2024
Advancing cooperation in combating hate speech, sexism, and other forms of gender-based violence ahead of presidential election
The aim was to jointly address measures needed to tackle hate speech, gender-based intolerance and sexism during the election period, building on lessons learned in the context of the local general elections in autumn 2023."Any manifestations of hatred or intolerance directly contradict with the core values of the European Union - respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights. In collaboration with partners such as UN Women, the Council of Europe, the Audio Visual Council, and the Central Election Commission, the EU remains steadfast in its commitment to combat hate crimes, sexism, and gender-based violence. This commitment extends to the forthcoming Presidential Elections campaign in the Republic of Moldova and beyond", mentioned Jānis Mažeiks, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.At the opening of the event, Falk Lange, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, highlighted that: “the Council of Europe’s commitment to democratic values forms the departure point for our support to create an electoral environment free from discrimination and harmful rhetoric, in particular in the context of electoral campaigns. In this sense, through this event we aim to increase the level of understanding for the issues of hate speech, sexist speech and other forms of gender-based violence and to combat these phenomena in the upcoming electoral campaign for presidential elections.”"The results of our efforts to combat this phenomenon are already visible. Women's involvement in politics and public life is increasing. Slowly but surely, more and more women are choosing to get involved in solving problems in their communities. We are pleased for these results, and they strengthen our confidence in our efforts to ensure and promote women's rights", stressed Angelica Caraman, President of the Central Electoral"In 2021, the Secretary-General of the United Nations mentioned, in his report, and thus confirmed that violence against women in politics is an international act of violation of political rights. I have been in the Republic of Moldova for 4 years and during my conversations with the candidates in the local elections, they reported that they lived countless negative experiences during the elections: sexism, sexist speech and various forms of violence against them as women and even against their families. It is a fact against which we must fight together", mentioned Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative.Liliana Vițu, Chairperson of the Audiovisual Council highlighted that "the role of state institutions in combating these phenomena is crucial. We must invest in increasing professional capacities, provide specialised assistance to our colleagues in institutions dealing with combating various forms of violence against women. I hope that all this effort of ours will bring about changes in society, so that women are not discredited and intimidate, but to be encouraged to run for a high position in state".The discussions focused on the results of monitoring sexist behaviour and hate speech in audiovisual media during the 2023 local elections, on the forms of gender-based legal liability and tools and best practices to combat this phenomenon during the electoral period.As an outcome of the event, participants agreed upon the importance of continuing cooperation and joining efforts in order to counter discrimination, hate speech, sexism and ensuring equal rights for all. The participants also agreed to safeguard the human dignity of those targeted by hate speech, and for ensuring that they are not excluded from the public debate, especially in the context of the upcoming autumn Presidential election and the constitutional referendum on the EU future of the Republic of Moldova.This event is organized by the Council of Europe and UN Women Moldova, in cooperation with the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova. The roundtable is part of a joint initiative of the CoE project Improving electoral practices in the Republic of Moldova, Phase III, EU/CoE project Combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova (part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Partnership for Good Governance), CoE Congress project Reinforcing the culture of dialogue and ethical open local governance in the Republic of Moldova, CoE project Enhancing diversity and equality in the Republic of Moldova.
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Latest Resources
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Resources
29 March 2024
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