Launch of the Roadmap on women’s economic empowerment

Due to household chores, 84 thousands women from Moldova are unemployed, while, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, over 100 thousands vacancies are available across the country.

According to the National Center for Research and Information on Women’s Issues “Partnership for Development”, the wage gap between women and men in Moldova is 25%,  in 16% of cases this gap being inexplicable. In order to support women’s economic empowerment and help the state and private sector, a Roadmap was developed and launched at the Government. The document has 5 major goals: Removing barriers to an equal access to resources;  Education, competencies and skills development; Promoting women’s entrepreneurship; Improving access to active participation in labour market; and Strengthening partnerships with private sector in implementing women’s empowerment principles.

The president of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and European Integration, Doina Gherman, welcomed the launch of the Roadmap. This document, from her point of view, unifies efforts made by all actors involved in promoting women’s rights processes. “Women’s economic empowerment is crucial for the entire society, representing a women’s right, and, in order to ensure it is respected, we need policies and laws. And we, MPs, already take measures and actions in this regard”, Doina Gherman added.

Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova country representative, mentioned “The Roadmap is an important document meant to boost women economic empowerment in RM, issue of high importance in the current social economic context of the Republic of Moldova. The economic empowerment of women is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality. This document is a collective work of the members and experts of the Economic Council dedicated to identifying the most feasible and stringent actions towards improving women's economic empowerment in Moldova.”

The head of the Secretariat of the Economic Council of Prime minister of RM, Ion Lupan, highlighted that the Roadmap represents a real sustainable platform to involve business associations, donors community, governmental agencies, in promoting initiatives aiming at increasing women’s role in the economy. The head of the Secretariat called all interested parties to help in identifying critical issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment through actions which may be implemented and assumed in the Roadmap.

Stela Jemna, the head of Prime minister’s Cabinet mentioned that the Roadmap must be applied in practice, so that more women get involved in businesses, having the opportunity to find a balance between personal and professional life. “We are on the right way, as we are aware of the problem, and now we are on the way to finding a solution for overcoming it”, Stela Jemna highlighted.

“The actions listed in this Roadmap are very ambitious. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection will provide the necessary support to contribute to improving opportunities for women in economic and social field, to ensure respect for their rights”, Felicia Bechtold, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, mentioned.

The implementation of the actions listed in the Roadmap on women’s economic empowerment are to be debated within the Economic Council of the Prime minister of RM, involving the presentation of best solutions for the institutions responsible for their implementation. For this purpose, an ad-hoc working group on women’s empowerment and gender equality will be created within the council. This group will monitor this process and will keep the public updated regarding the implementation of the Roadmap on women’s economic empowerment.

The Roadmap on women’s economic empowerment is developed by the Secretariat of the Economic Council of Prime minister of RM, with support from UN Women and financial support from Sweden.