Violence against women and girls is the most widespread human rights violation worldwide. Although the subject of human rights protection has been discussed in depth at the central level, this reform priority for Moldova, previously formulated by the European Commission, needs to be actively pursued in the regions.

In partnership with UN Women, the #NEXT4EU project team came to Ungheni, where we had a useful dialogue with representatives of local government, civil society and business.

Vladimir Cojocaru, Secretary General of the Office of the People’s Advocate, spoke about existing regulations for the prevention of discrimination and guarantees of independence of ombudsmen.

Oxana Ciobanu, Local Expert on Gender Equality and Development, reviewed Moldova’s international and national commitments to promote gender equality, prevent and combat gender-based violence, including sexual violence, and mentioned good practices at local level.

The event was also attended by Father Adrian Lupu, known for his activism in the fight against domestic violence and the promotion of human rights.

The project “#NEXT4EU – Young Generation for EU Integration in Moldova” is implemented by the Institut für Europäische Politik, in partnership with the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS) and the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), with the support of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.