Moldova's social services and employment sector is undergoing a wide-ranging reform of its institutional culture. A total of 320 specialists from across the country have completed an intensive professional training program designed to reshape how the state interacts with vulnerable citizens — with a strong focus on gender equality, an intersectional approach, and rapid response in cases of violence.

Behind every successful business are often months or years of hard work, adaptation and continuous learning. For Olesea Plăcintă, Veronica Negruță and Elena David, growing their businesses has meant identifying new opportunities for expansion—from digitalizing educational services and developing innovative products for children to investing in dairy processing. Today, the results of that journey are reflected in stronger businesses and ambitious plans for the future.

On 2nd July, UN Women marks 16 years as the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. In Moldova, these years have been defined by strong partnerships, landmark reforms and tangible progress towards a society where all women and girls have greater opportunities to lead, participate and thrive.

Families facing hardship in the town of Nisporeni can now access free clothing and essential household items through the Social Wardrobe established in the community. The initiative was implemented by the Public Association Orașul Morilor in partnership with the Nisporeni Town Hall and local social services, with financial support from Switzerland. It responds to the needs of people experiencing poverty and vulnerable families by providing free access to essential items and helping improve their living conditions.

The story of H.E. Iwona Piórko, the first woman to serve as European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, underscores both the progress made, and the barriers women continue to face in leadership. Her journey speaks to the importance of challenging stereotypes, navigating leadership in male-dominated spaces and remaining true to oneself.

Today, more and more girls are choosing to build their futures in STEAM fields—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. For Silvia Andronic, a researcher and university lecturer in physics at the Technical University of Moldova, this shift is both encouraging and essential. She believes that access to education, supportive teachers, and strong female role models can play a decisive role in shaping a young woman’s path toward a career in STEAM.

An increasing number of women are choosing careers in the defense sector, including Major of Justice Stela Alexandrov, a legal officer within the Ministry of Defense. For her, pursuing a military career was a natural step, inspired by her older brother, who serves as a police officer. “I wanted to prove that professionalism, discipline, and integrity are not determined by gender”, says Stela Alexandrov.

In the village of Colibași from Cahul raion, a women-led initiative is helping unite the entire community. With support from Switzerland, through the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) and UN Women, the village created an outdoor fitness and recreation area that has become a strong example of community building through healthy living, equal access to opportunities, and inclusive public services. Today, more than 5,000 women, men, young people, seniors, and people with disabilities have free access to the sports facilities.

Nearly 3,000 people across the Republic of Moldova have taken part over the past two and a half years in activities promoting gender equality, preventing violence, and challenging stereotypes through the second phase of the EU4GenderEquality regional programme, implemented across the Eastern Partnership countries, including the Republic of Moldova. The programme’s impact and achievements were presented during a closing event that brought together public authorities, civil society organizations, and development partners representatives, as well as experts and programme beneficiaries.

Gender norms and stereotypes continue to shape the educational choices of young people, contributing to deeply gender-segregated sectors. Fields such as education, healthcare, and social protection have become predominantly feminized, while information and communication technologies (ICT), construction, and engineering remain largely male-dominated. In an economy increasingly driven by innovation and technology, the equal participation of girls and women in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) is no longer simply an educational aspiration, it is a strategic necessity for building transferable skills, sustainable development, and economic competitiveness.

A new nursery group was inaugurated at the "Licurici" Kindergarten in the town of Nisporeni, offering young families, especially women the opportunity to return to the workforce or studies sooner after maternity leave.

Today marked the official launch of the Women’s Caucus in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, XII Legislature - a cross-party initiative bringing together women Members of Parliament from all parliamentary factions around a shared commitment to advancing gender equality, strengthening women’s political leadership, and promoting gender-responsive legislation.

Universities in the Republic of Moldova have taken an important step toward strengthening a safe academic environment, following the approval by the Ministry of Education and Research of a Framework on the prevention, reporting and response to cases of sexual harassment in higher education institutions. The document establishes a clear and effective mechanism for the prevention, identification, reporting and resolution of sexual harassment cases, both in physical spaces and in the online environment.

For many women in the Republic of Moldova, access to childcare can be the difference between pursuing a job, attending a training course, or missing out on new opportunities altogether. In Cahul, the child-friendly room at the Inotek Center is helping remove this barrier, supporting both women participating in the Center’s courses and its employees.

In the Moldovan village of Varnița – located within the country’s security zone near the city of Bender, which is under the control of Transnistria’s de facto authorities – Marcela Mastac and Andrei Gramatschii have transformed their backgrounds in public communication and industrial design into a small family business that crafts handmade wooden toys. What started as a single toy made for a friend has grown into GUGA GAGA, a brand rooted in quality, sustainability, and care.

Women entrepreneurs and their contribution to economic development took center stage in Ungheni during the first regional dialogue organized as part of the “Fii pe val. Consumă produs acasă” campaign. Through its involvement, UN Women supports the promotion of women entrepreneurs and highlights their role in the local and national economy.

A new crèche group has opened at Kindergarten No. 1 “Guguță” in Trușeni commune, offering children aged 1 to 3 improved conditions for care and early childhood development. The new service also supports mothers in returning to the labour market.

Three women entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova were recognized for their innovative business ideas during the third edition of the “Ellevator. Female Founders Conference”, which brought together more than 100 women entrepreneurs, business founders, startup creators, and women leaders from diverse fields.

The Republic of Moldova is making tangible progress in strengthening its justice and protection systems for women and girls who experience sexual violence. The country’s first Integrated Regional Service for women survivors of sexual violence is improving how survivors access safe, timely, and equitable support.

As the Republic of Moldova faces growing demographic pressures, well-targeted investments in human capital are emerging as a key response to strengthening the country’s economic and social resilience. This message was highlighted during the High-Level Conference on Social Rights, held in Chișinău and organized by the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, UNFPA, UN Women, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).