What is the project?

This project is a follow up from previous co-operation with the Moldovan authorities in the field of violence against women and domestic violence through the project "Awareness-raising activities on the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova", implemented in 2020-2021. The project promoted knowledge and generated visibility to increase the understanding about the aims, values and content of Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) to support the Moldovan authorities in paving the way towards its ratification.

This new project will act as a roadmap to support the Moldovan authorities in their first steps of implementation of the Istanbul Convention and is in line as well with their national policy instruments. To do so, the project will aim to continue to raise awareness of the Istanbul Convention and other gender equality standards in the Republic of Moldova across actors. The project will also seek to strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders involved in preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, protecting the victims and prosecuting the perpetrators of violence, and advancing towards an effective co-ordination among the relevant stakeholders s in line with the Istanbul Convention.

  What is the legal context?

Violence against women is one of the most serious human rights violations, a form of discrimination against women and an obstacle to achieving greater equality between women and men worldwide. Despite legal and policy progress in this field in the Republic of Moldova, research shows that it remains a problem. A UNDP study on Violence against Women in the Family (2011) concluded that 63% of women in the Republic of Moldova experienced psychological, physical or sexual violence from their partner during their lifetime, and 1 in 10 experienced economic abuse. Numbers were higher for women from rural areas, elderly women, and/or separated/divorced women. In addition, an OSCE-led survey on violence against women in Moldova published in July 2019 showed that 40% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of a partner or non-partner since the age of 15. The 2020 CEDAW Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the Republic of Moldova highlight the need to train professionals and to challenge gender stereotypes.  

The Council of Europe Istanbul Convention is widely recognised as one of the main legal standards and the most comprehensive international treaty to tackle violence against women and domestic violence (VAW/DV). The Istanbul Convention aims at zero tolerance for such violence through its four pillars: preventing violence, protecting victims, and prosecuting the perpetrators in a framework of multi-agency co-operation that will advance non-discrimination and human dignity. 

The Republic of Moldova ratified the Istanbul Convention in October 2021. This proved the commitment of the Moldovan authorities towards ending VAW/DV and to integrate international standards and best practice in this field. Supporting its implementation and continuing dispelling misconceptions about the convention will help Moldovan authorities in delivering on its standards. 

   What do we aim to achieve?

 News

 Who we work with?

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Ministry of Interior, National Institute of Justice.

The project also co-operates with different state institutions and non-governmental organisations, international organisations and embassies working in the field of preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in the Republic of Moldova.

 Who benefits from the project?

The Project targets State authorities, civil cociety, media and journalists, legal professionals, social workers, victims of violence against women and domestic violence etc.