For ALL Women and Girls: Livia Mitrofan on the power of legal protection for survivors of violence

#ForAllWomenandGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Livia Mitrofan is a judge from the Republic of Moldova and was at the time of the interview holding the position of interim president of the Chisinau Court. She is an advocate for survivor-centered access to legal protection and support for survivors of gender-based violence.

Moldovan women are leading the way

Gender norms in Moldova are often described as traditional. With limited options for public kindergarten for children under the age of three, women are often expected to leave their jobs to raise the children while the men financially provide for the family. Judge Mitrofan explains that despite these limiting norms, Moldovan women are asserting themselves in their careers and public life. “In a society where the perceptions are that the woman’s place is in the kitchen and where having children is a necessity, women still manage to assert themselves and become opinion leaders. If we look at Moldova, we see that the President is a woman, the President of the Constitutional Court is a woman, and I, a woman, am the acting president of the largest court in Moldova, where over 60% of judges are women. Despite the challenges, Moldovan women are managing to create important change in their country.”

Witnessing the power of legal support

One of these important changes that Judge Mitrofan and others in Moldova are pushing for is to increase the legal protection of women survivors of violence. The prevalence of gender-based violence is widespread, with rates in rural areas being especially high. In Moldova, 73% of women over the age of 15 have suffered psychological, physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner. Meanwhile, 40% of women say that they have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.

In her role as a judge, Judge Mitrofan has seen firsthand how accessible legal support has changed the lives of women survivors. “I had a request for the issuance of a protection order for a woman against her husband, with whom she had several children. She was a stay-at-home mom and was financially dependent on her husband, who would subject her to both psychological and physical violence. Due to their financial situation, the woman couldn’t hire her own lawyer. Through an appeal to the court, she was granted a court-appointed lawyer and was eventually granted the protection order. After the verdict, she approached me and expressed her gratitude. She explained how she was sure that no one would believe her and that it had taken her years to file for protection.” While Livia Mitrofan does not communicate with the parties outside of the court hearing, she recognizes the common reality of what the woman said to her. “It was important for me that this woman saw that the state, lawyer, and judge can grant her protection, and a certainty that she will be helped and protected.”

The importance of a helping hand

While Livia Mitrofan thinks that more work still needs to be done to prevent violence, she recognizes the progress that Moldova has done for protection of survivors. “We have good legislation, much due to the hard work of non-governmental organizations who have convinced society that protection is a priority. There are experts who guide survivors and continuously train specialists in this field, and there are protection centers who guide the survivor throughout the process of rehabilitation. These centers provide emergency legal, medical, and psychological assistance to help the survivor understand that what she has experienced is indeed violence, and she has rights.”

Judge Mitrofan emphasizes how important these centers are for survivors, saying that “these centers play a protective role. Survivors often face prejudice and backlash from society, and having this protector is very important. These centers are necessary in providing the survivor with hope and support her in her fight for safety and freedom.”

Regarding her wish for all women and girls, she says, “I wish that all women and girls in the Republic of Moldova are safe. If they ever need to, I wish they have full confidence in that they can get help and be heard.”

Livia Mitrofan is a member of the Legal Gender Café, a network of women professionals in the legal field supported by UN Women Moldova with financial support from the Government of Denmark through the project ''Women’s Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies.”