Moldova launches 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Today, over 400 representatives of the Government, local and national authorities, international organizations and missions, and civil society united in a joint walk to launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This annual campaign advocates for the elimination of violence against women and girls, sending a clear message: violence is unacceptable, and there is #NOEXCUSE.

The event, organized by the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV) with support from the United Nations in Moldova, highlighted the urgent need to address gender-based violence.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the Republic of Moldova. Recent data shows that 73% of women over 15 have experienced violence from a partner, and 40% have faced physical or sexual violence.

This year, the campaign focuses on femicide, the most extreme form of violence. Alarming data reveals that in the first nine months of 2024, 22 women in Moldova were killed by intimate partners or family members.

“There is no excuse for violence, and our daily and yearly actions against all forms of violence can and must bring results. Efforts of the National Coordinating Council Platform, creation of the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, strengthening the legal framework, and improving prevention and response tools are all aimed at ending violence against women and girls. “ said Doina Gherman, deputy speaker of the Parliament.

The UNITE by 2030 Campaign, launched by the UN Secretary-General, seeks to raise global awareness, promote advocacy, and inspire innovative solutions to eliminate violence against women and girls both online and offline.

“Violence against women and girls can and must be prevented. The solution lies in robust responses, educating and empowering women and girls, building strong institutions and a legal framework that can protect and support survivors of violence and holding perpetrators accountable. We need to invest in comprehensive strategies, including partnership with women’s rights organizations, and allocate sufficient budgets for prevention and support services.” emphasized Yesim Oruc, Resident Coordinator of UN in Moldova.

Since January 2024, the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV) has led inter-institutional efforts to develop a systemic, multidisciplinary, evidence-based response against all forms of violence. In the near future the Agency plans to:

• Develop and pilot an efficient model of prevention.
• Strengthen professional capacity in the field.
• Create a multidisciplinary national HUB for combating violence.
• Improve data collection systems and integrating support and protection services for survivors of violence.

In the Republic of Moldova, 16 days of activism have been organized for 23 years with the participation of the Government of Moldova, national and local authorities, international organizations, and civil society.

The official color of the campaign is orange, which is a symbol of a bright, violence-free future for every woman and girl. The campaign’s hashtag is #NOEXCUSE, because there is #NOEXCUSE for violence against women and girls.

National data: In the first 10 months of 2024, in Moldova, there was a 24% increase in the number of protection orders issued by the courts (527 as compared to 426 in the same period of 2023). This reflects the authorities' continued efforts to combat violence and provide protection to victims. The electronic monitoring system was also applied in 93% of the cases of protection orders, which indicates an improvement in the institutional response to this complex social phenomenon.

Global data: Globally, approximately 51,100 women and girls were killed by their intimate partners or other family members during 2023.4 This means that 60 per cent of the almost 85,000 women and girls killed intentionally during the year were murdered by their intimate partners or other family members. On average, 140 women and girls worldwide lost their lives every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative.