The Republic of Moldova ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence known as the Istanbul Convention which will enter into force on the 1st of May. The country becomes the 35th state to ratify the Convention.
The Republic of Moldova ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence known as the Istanbul Convention which will enter into force in Moldova on the 1st of May 2022. The country becomes the 35th state to ratify the Convention.
The alarming situation of victims of domestic violence during the period of lockdown in 2020 has brought to the fore the need to ratify the Istanbul Convention and the need to identify better protection for women, as acknowledged by the government.
The Istanbul Convention requires criminalising and legally sanctioning different forms of violence against women, including domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment and psychological violence.
“With this, I believe that women and girls in Moldova will become stronger and even more active part of the society,” said EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Janis Mazeiks.
According La Strada Moldova, the ratification of the convention brings hope that the situation for victims of domestic violence will improve in the country.
“We need legislative changes to take concrete steps to effectively, promptly and unconditionally protect every woman and child at risk or who has experienced domestic or gender-based violence. The deposition of the instrument of ratification of the Istanbul Convention by the Republic of Moldova is an important catalyst and a valuable guarantee of change for the well-being of women and children, including changes at the systemic, legislative level”, states Elena Botezatu, Executive Director of La Strada in Moldova.
Since 2013, the Anti-discrimination Law No. 121 “On Ensuring Equality” has been in force in Moldova; the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality has been working. In 2017, professional restrictions for women were abolished in Moldova – the list of professions prohibited for women was canceled, and special protective measures for pregnant, recently delivered and lactating women appeared in the country’s Labor Code.