Moldova State University students engage in dialogue about gender-based violence

As part of efforts to raise awareness on gender-based violence, Moldova State University, in collaboration with UN Women Moldova, organized a public lecture with first-year students from the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences. The event, which was organized to commemorate the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, offered students the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue about challenges and solutions related to gender equality and gender-based violence.

Topics addressed during the dialogue included: recognizing gender equality as the foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world; the role of education and media in promoting an equal society; combating gender stereotypes and harmful social norms; expanding access to justice and prevention; and addressing violence against women. The causes of gender-based violence and the myths surrounding it, barriers faced by women going through situations of violence and the role of different specialists in combating the phenomenon were also explored.

Otilia Dandara, the First Vice-Rector of Moldova State University, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to supporting national efforts to promote gender equality and prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. "Moldova State University joined the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, as violence against women remains a widespread phenomenon and a serious human rights violation,” she said. “Education plays a crucial role in combating gender-based violence and can help reduce the risk of violence and promote gender equality, ensuring an effective coordinated response to cases of violence against women."

Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova’s Country Representative, welcomed the students present at the event, assuring them that young men and women play a crucial role in prevention efforts. "Education plays a key role in preventing violence against women and girls,” she said. “It is a framework in which harmful attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence can be challenged, and young men and women with their innovative and creative thinking can become promoters of change, find new strategies to transform social norms, address unequal power relations between women and men and create safer environments, which, in turn, will have the potential to prevent and reduce violence against women, making the world a safer and fairer place."

The event was also attended by Ana Gherciu, Executive Director of Moldova.org, who spoke about the role of mass media in promoting an equal society. "Often, in the comments section of the materials we publish, commenters will reproach us for talking a lot about violence, questioning the fact that there is so much violence in Moldova,” she said. “However, seven out of 10 girls and women in Moldova have experienced violence at least once during their lives: they have been harassed, hit, touched without permission, assaulted. That's why I encourage you to get informed. This will help you develop a sensitive and responsible attitude. Because when women's and men's rights are the same, their opportunities are the same."

During the event, UN Women Moldova also donated to the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences two pairs of virtual reality glasses that feature an innovative tool previously developed by UN Women. The glasses help increase knowledge about gender-based violence, allowing students to distinguish the differences between flirting and sexual harassment. Using an augmented reality application, the event’s participants also had the unique visual experience of watching four animations from UN Women’s immersive digital art exhibition "Rising from the shadows: The sun never hits." Launched during the kickoff of the 16 Days campaign, the multimedia exhibition illustrated the stories of four women from Moldova and Ukraine who have been affected by different forms of violence, in order to raise awareness about the seriousness of this phenomenon and the need to take immediate action to prevent and eradicate it.

Ultimately, the dialogue highlighted the need for education as a fundamental tool in preventing and combating gender-based violence, as well as the role of educational institutions in promoting positive social norms and equal opportunities.