We are deeply saddened and outraged by the death of Ana-Maria Guja. We mourn her, as we mourn every girl and woman, victim of violence and abuse. This CAN and MUST be prevented, and we need to act.

In April 2024, UN Women inaugurated three new childcare centers in northern Moldova, specifically in the cities of Sîngerei, Rîșcani and Glodeni. These initiatives, undertaken in partnership with national and local authorities, the international non-governmental organization Street Child, and with financial support from the Government of Sweden, will help 60 families balance their personal and professional lives.

As one of the founders of Ophelia, a non-governmental organization dedicated to combating gender-based violence, Victoria Lungu is committed to supporting women in southern Moldova. Thanks to Victoria and her colleagues, Ophelia opened a Women's Resilience Center in Roșu village of Cahul district in November 2023. The center's goal is to support women survivors of gender-based violence and those at risk of abuse, including refugees as well as women from host communities. Victoria's motivation to establish Ophelia stems from her desire to help foster a society free of violence, where every woman and girl lives in a safe and equitable environment.

In 2023, over 200 women from Moldova and Ukraine participated in the "Women in Online Work" (WoW) programme, taking advantage of opportunities for their personal development and professional requalification. One of the participants was Evghenia Hutsuliak, a refugee from Odessa, Ukraine, who crossed the border in hopes of finding a safe place for herself and her two children.

UN Women, with financial support from the Government of Japan, inaugurated two child-friendly spaces in the center of Căușeni, a city located in southern Moldova. Set up to support women and promote child development, these spaces represent a commitment to women's economic empowerment and improving quality of life in the community.

In a society increasingly aware of climate change, success stories on environmentally friendly products are becoming beacons of inspiration. One such remarkable story is that of Ana Bradu, the founder of Green Pack Moldova. An entrepreneur with a clear vision for a sustainable future, Ana owns a business focused on ecological packaging: compostable shopping and trash bags, cotton bags, disposable paper and sugarcane tableware, paper drinking straws and other eco-friendly products. Through her determination, Ana demonstrates that it is possible to protect the environment while developing viable and responsible business solutions.

UN Women has launched the Campaign dedicated to International Women's Day. The event, themed "Invest in women: Stories of empowerment" organized by UN Women with financial support from the European Union and Sweden, reiterated the importance of investing in women as a human rights imperative and a cornerstone for building inclusive societies.

On 4 March, UN Women, the Moldova Stock Exchange and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) organized the first-ever "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" event in Moldova, expressing a shared commitment to promoting gender equality in the financial sector. The event was attended by representatives of financial institutions and the business community.

Investing in women is both an economic imperative and a human rights issue. It is a human rights issue because the global economic and financial systems are complicit in perpetuating gender inequality. At the same time, financial resources are required to overcome these challenges and build a world that enables all women to realize their rights. Investing in women enables women to thrive, which contributes to prosperity that can be measured in financial terms.

Prior to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Evghenia enjoyed a comfortable and secure life in the southern city of Mykolaiv. She shared her days with friends and her mother, while finding fulfilment in her work as an art teacher. After her city faced relentless bombings, it became too dangerous for Evgheniato stay in her home. Together with her mother, Evghenia fled west, joining 113,000 other Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, the majority of whom are women and girls.

On 20 February 2024, the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence presented its priorities and commitments at the Government of Moldova’s premises in Chișinău.

The UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia recently concluded sub-regional multistakeholder consultations in preparation for the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). Scheduled from March 11 to 22, 2024, the CSW68 focuses on the priority theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

On 25 January, an event took place marking the end of the project "Strengthening the socioeconomic resilience of women and girls affected by the Ukrainian refugee crisis in Moldova." Implemented by UN Women, the project received financial support from the Government of Japan and collaborated closely with several local implementing partners. The closing event brought together over 120 beneficiaries, partners and government representatives who played an essential role in the project, helping improve the lives of women and girls affected by the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

In the digital era, an increasing number of girls and women are choosing to study STEM and/or ICT fields. Teachers play a significant role in this trend, encouraging and promoting this path. To commemorate International Education Day, we explore how educators can inspire young women to opt for a career in fields perceived as male-dominated. We also spoke with Dr. Lilia Sava, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at the Technical University of Moldova, about how education contributes to building an equal and inclusive society.

The National Public Security Inspectorate (INSP) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), in collaboration with UN Women and with financial support from the Government of Sweden, marked a significant moment by launching an initiative to support the work-life balance of employees within the police system.

Meet Evghenia, a Ukrainian refugee living in Moldova who participated in the SheLeads Programme - Increased opportunities for business skills development and support for business for women, both local and Ukrainian refugees, offered by UN Women Moldova.

Galina Garmaj is a Ukrainian refugee living in Moldova who participated in the LEAP program offered by UN Women Moldova. When the war first started, Galina believed that it would quickly end. One day in May 2022, a bomb hit the apartment she used to live in before the war. She feared the next bomb would hit the home where her family currently lived. She made a quick decision. Within two hours, she gathered her things and left Ukraine.

Over 100 girls and women from Moldova and Ukraine successfully completed "Women in Online Work," a training programme launched at the end of April by the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC), with the support of UN Women Moldova and funding from the Government of Japan.

Through her example, Olesea Plăcintă illustrates the strength and resilience of a woman experiencing self-growth. Originally from Semeni in Ungheni district and the mother of four children, Olesea went through an impressive journey of personal rediscovery and entrepreneurial success, thanks to economic empowerment programmes supported by UN Women Moldova.

Olesea Kolomiets is an internationally certified chocolate taster who was running a chocolate factory in Odesa when the war started. Suddenly, she had to leave everything that she worked for behind in the search for safety. She found refuge in Moldova, where she decided to rebuild her dream.