Gender Debates Café: Celebrating the immense efforts made by women during the pandemic
2021 is an important year when it comes to discussing gender issues. The outcomes of systemic inequalities which are still being perpetuated and reproduced in a pandemic affected world, is a topic which should be restlessly addressed. Important discussions on the condition of women during this time are needed. Thus, on the 8th of March, on the International Women’s Day, UN Women Moldova organized a new edition of Gender Debates Café – a themed series of discussions on gender equality and the importance of having more women in leadership positions on a local and national level.Date:
The first Gender Debates Café event of this year was kickstarted by a message from Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative, who also moderated the discussion and, during the first panel, was in dialogue with Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador in the Republic of Moldova, Erik Wirkensjö, First Secretary of Political Affairs of the Embassy of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova and Liliana Palihovici, president of the “Institutum Virtutes Civilis” Public Association. The second panel invited Anastasia Condruc, Editor-in-chief of Moldova.org, Larisa Voloh, President of the Association of Women Mayors, and Elena Cernei, President of the Association of persons with disabilites „Speranța”, to share their opinions on the matter.
“COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted women due to the pre-existing structural inequalities, the labour segregation and the pervasive gender stereotypes and patriarchal social norms. We saw steep rise in domestic violence during the lockdown, increase in unpaid care work on the shoulders on women, impact on the economic sector in areas such as services where mostly women are engaged”, has mentioned Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative and the moderator of the first discussion.
“To this day, women do not have the same rights and freedoms as men. This is a thing that we must recognize. We can do a lot more. Make more reforms, have paid maternity leave. This also means financial independence and, step by step, women can occupy more leadership positions. More political will is needed, more fighting and constant pressure from civil society and the strategic partners who want this change. Gender equality is not just a right. Women’s rights are human rights and respecting them has beneficial effects on the entire society, including on the economy. I think this is our point of view in all the Swedish partnerships”, mentioned Erik Wirkensjö, First Secretary of Political Affairs of the Embassy of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova.
As this year we are celebrating the immense efforts made by women during the pandemic at home, in the society, as frontline workers, this series of discussions is focused in bringing up important issues regarding women’s condition in a world in which their responsibilities and the amount of unpaid work they are subjected to, are increasing. This, however, is not just a woman’s issue. To address this problem which impacts everyone at every level of the society, the discussion series was created as an open space where young people, civic activists and decision makers can share their experiences with being involved in leadership and what should be done or should change for creating a more inclusive space for women and girls. This, and the importance of understanding why and how gender inequality is a major human rights violation, may bring forth more issues which women are facing when they are denied equal opportunities and have limited access to decision-making.
“Achieving gender equality should fully engage both men and women. An active involvement of boys and men in promoting gender equality not only paves the way for an inclusive and a respectful society for every human being but also can contribute to reducing violence against women”, mentioned Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador in the Republic of Moldova.
The discussion series, which is guided by the theme “I decide. It’s time for equality”, has the goal of offering a discussion platform where the condition of women is discussed freely and openly while perpetuating the urgency of achieving gender equality, promoting positive examples and non-sexist language. Especially, during a time in which women are subjected to even more discrimination and inequalities. As, according to the Report of the UN Secretary General in the lights of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, women on average do 3 times as much unpaid care and domestic work than men and 18% of ever partnered women age 15-49 have experienced sexual and or physical violence by an intimate partner in the previous month.
The Gender Debates Café is launched as part of the UN Women Moldova International Women’s Day 2021 Campaign which celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.