The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova hosted and event today, bringing together over 80 participants to discuss the implementation of the National Programme for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security for 2023-2027 (https://gov.md/sites/default/files/document/attachments/subiect-14-nu-85-mai-2023_0.pdf).
The event aimed to strengthen collaboration between the NAP Secretariat, national entities, development partners, and civil society organizations, all dedicated to promoting gender equality in law enforcement, defense, security, and peace.
In his opening remarks, Adrian Efros, Minister of Internal Affairs, emphasized that “the implementation of UN Resolution 1325 is an opportunity to build a fairer and safer society for all our citizens”. H.E. Katarina Fried, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden in Chisinau, Laura Hruby, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, and Dominika Stojanoska, Country Representative for UN Women Moldova, highlighted the international support for these initiatives.
The first panel session focused on empowering women in decision-making roles. Doina Gherman, Vice-Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, shared her experience and reported on legislative progress in this area, while Olena Kondratiuk, Vice-Speaker of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, shared the Ukrainian perspective.
The second panel session, moderated by Diana Salcutan, Deputy Head of the General Inspectorate of Border Police, centered on ensuring sovereignty and independence on the national frontline. Kateryna Pavlichenko, Deputy Minister of Interior of Ukraine, provided a video overview of cross-border challenges. Luminița Cebirciu, Deputy Head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, emphasized the importance of resilience and the need for prompt and tailored response in emergency and crisis situations. Lidia Ababii, Head of the Customs Revenue and Control Directorate of the Customs Service, detailed efforts to strengthen effective border security measures, while Aurelia Barbaros, Head of the Sectoral Country Integration Policy Section of the Reintegration Bureau, discussed reintegration policies essential for national security.
The third panel session, moderated by Corina Mocanu-Bonnin, First Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in the EU Delegation, included presentations on stories of integrity and impact by Veronica Dragalin, Head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office. The session also covered resilience to perceived cross-border risks from Ukraine, the importance of psychological counseling for refugees and frontline workers, and balancing security activities and personal life. Jana Costachi, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, concluded the session with a presentation on the flexibility of the state response to the needs of war refugees.
The fourth panel session, moderated by Cristina Lesnic, former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, gender and security expert, and chair of the Board of the NGO Institute for Democracy and Development, focused on inclusive rehabilitation and peacebuilding. Topics included the missions of Doctors Without Borders, lessons learned in conflict zones, the role of women in peace-keeping missions and the impact of community action, exemplified by the support provided by the citizens of Harbovat village to those fleeing the Russian war in Ukraine.
The final session, moderated by Jasmin Frentzel Sørensen, Deputy Head of the Danish Embassy in Chisinau, discussed governance for security, partnerships and collaborations for women’s participation in the security and peace sectors, support for the WPS Agenda in Moldova, and project management to ensure progress in these fields.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Daniella Misail-Nichitin, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to promoting gender equality and implementing Resolution 1325. She emphasized the importance of collaboration to ensure sustainable peace and security.
During the event, several significant achievements in terms of women’s involvement in our security system were highlighted, showcasing the considerable progress made in 2023.
Key achievements include:
– In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, women now make up 26.4% of the employees, with 14.11% of senior decision-making positions held by women.
– In the National Army, approximately 29.5% of leadership positions held by women. Additionally, in 2023, three women from the Ministry of Defense participated in peacekeeping missions, with two in South Sudan and one in the Central African Republic.
– In the Intelligence and Security Service, women constitute 35% of the employees.
– The National Anti-Corruption Centre has a 30% rate of female employees, with women holding 28% of senior positions.
– The State Protection and Security Service has achieved a 10% female employment rate, with 2% of senior decision-making positions held by women.
– The Customs Service has seen significant increases, with women making up around 33% of employees.
– The National Administration of Prisons has a female employee rate of 37.12%.
The degree of implementation of the 2023-2027 Plan stands at 43.3%, with 5 actions completed and 37 ongoing.
In 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs organized 14 gender equality activities, including trainings, workshops, webinars, and conferences, involving 741 participants (481 men and 260 women). The Ministry of Defense trained 80 people (30 men and 50 women) on gender equality. The Customs Service conducted 56 activities involving trainings, workshops, webinars and conferences, with 216 customs officials (134 women and 82 men) participating. The National Administration of Penitentiaries trained 184 people (114 men and 70 women) during the same period.
The results for 2023 are:
– 962 domestic violence referrals handled;
– 807 criminal cases related to domestic violence initiated and completed;
– 335 criminal cases related to domestic violence initiated and completed;
– 403 reports of sexual violence received;
– 326 criminal cases related to sexual violence initiated and completed;
– 129 criminal cases related to sexual violence initiated and completed;
– 42 violence reduction programmes developed;
– 24 violence reduction programmes implemented;
– 429 protection orders issued in criminal cases;
– 5723 protection orders issued in misdemeanor cases;
– 145 restraining orders issued in criminal cases;
– 798 restraining orders issued for misdemeanor cases;
– 175 protection orders and restraining orders in criminal cases violated;
– 1236 protection orders and restraining orders in misdemeanor cases violated;
– 613 victims referred to specialized services in criminal cases;
– 3957 victims referred to specialized services in misdemeanor cases.
These figures reflect our national commitment to advancing gender equality and involving women in decision-making.
