Event celebrates youth leadership and activism in Moldova

During the "Generation Equality: Youth in Action" event, more than 12 young men and women discussed positive examples of youth leadership, activism and entrepreneurship, as well as best practices for youth-led non-governmental organizations. 

The event aimed to empower young women and men through an integrated approach, focusing on changing social norms, supporting public policy changes, promoting girls' leadership and amplifying the voices of youth in society. 

In attendance at the event was Ana Calinici, the Secretary of State of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, who told the audience that young people have the power to positively change the country.

"In my interactions with young people, I often see how they promote values important for the development of communities and the entire country, such as equality, meritocracy, respect and human rights. This will contribute to a society where everyone has equal opportunities,” she said. “Today's youth influence the course of our country. They are the ones who decide what happens in their schools, universities, and society.” 

The Secretary of State also mentioned the importance of civic activism. “Through civic activism, I became Secretary of State or a Member of Parliament at the age of 28. Civic activism is not just at the central level. I started by performing human rights sketches in the sixth grade, and I could see how much it influenced the way young people understood children’s rights,” she explained. “This motivated me to move on to the next project: using petitions to defend the interests of schools and youth in Ialoveni, the city where I am from. I encourage young people to go from small to big, to grow and be civically active. This way, they have a strong voice." 

Opening the event, Katarina Fried, the Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova, shared her personal experience, recalling the moment she first obtained the right to vote and realized she wanted to help improve policies in Sweden. 

"When I was 18 years old, I was living in a very small village that was remote from the capital of Sweden. There, I had the opportunity to join a group of young people for an international forum. For three days, I participated in this forum, which showed me the true value of democracy: involvement,” she said.  “Young people have everything they need: passion, enthusiasm and the energy to fight for the change they want for the future. It is a goal that requires a lot of effort, but anything is possible.” She encouraged girls to make their voices heard and urged boys to support and amplify the voices around them. “When we see in our projects the major changes a single active person can make, it motivates us to believe in the future of young people, in a bright future,” she said. “I encourage the young generation to be promoters of change, to take responsibility for transforming Moldova into a country of gender equality." 

Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova’s Country Representative, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in achieving gender equality and shaping a prosperous future for our country.

"In Moldova, young people aged 14 to 34 represent one-third of the population, which means they are a great power and an important part of this country's future. I am pleased to see boys participating in discussions about gender equality and to see things changing for the better,” she said. “However, there are still obstacles we need to overcome, such as stereotypes about gender roles. I encourage young people to take advantage of all the opportunities available to them, to be the engine of change, and to use their potential to the fullest. We must pass the microphone to young people and listen to what they have to say. The young generation needs to be vocal and participative." 

During the event, UN Women held two discussion panels: "Today's Young Women: Agents of Change" and "The Importance of Civic Participation and Investment in Youth." Participants shared remarkable stories and leadership experiences in various fields. Young people also discussed opportunities for involvement within platforms and non-governmental organizations.