Felicia Bechtoldt
Among the measures presented are the expansion of the network of shelters for victims, an increase in the number of budget programmes that take gender equality into account, and the development of pre-school care infrastructure.
The Moldovan delegation was led by Felicia Bechtold, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. She spoke about measures to integrate the principles of gender equality into public policy and budgetary planning.
The number of budget sub-programmes incorporating a gender perspective rose from 9 in 2024 to 24 in 2025. In 2026, 22 local public authorities developed 71 such sub-programmes.
The network of shelters for victims of violence will be expanded
According to data provided by the Moldovan delegation, in 2026 the state is funding 11 shelters with approximately 230 places. In 2024, there were 9 shelters in operation with 178 places.
In the first half of 2026, 665 victims used the shelters – 51 per cent more than in the same period last year.
The helpline for women and girls, 0 8008 8008, recorded 2,188 calls in the first six months of 2026. By way of comparison, 1,086 calls were received in the first half of 2025.
During the dialogue, CEDAW experts commended Moldova’s efforts to combat domestic violence, including the reforms of recent years. The fight against human trafficking, the protection of vulnerable groups and the reduction of the gender pay gap were also discussed.
Mothers’ employment and access to nursery places
Another area of government policy is expanding women’s access to the labour market and creating conditions that enable them to balance work with family responsibilities.
The employment rate for women raising children aged 0 to 6 rose from 39.4 per cent in 2019 to 50.7 per cent in 2024.
Since 2023, 1,264 nursery places have been created in the country. Plans are in place to create or refurbish more than 2,000 places between 2026 and 2027.
These measures are designed to make it easier for parents to return to work and to expand employment opportunities for women. However, the actual impact of the new places on employment will depend, amongst other things, on their accessibility to families and their geographical distribution.
What commitments were discussed at the UN
Presenting Moldova’s position, Felicia Bechtold emphasised that the aim of the reforms is not only to amend legislation and government programmes, but also to ensure the effective protection of the rights of women and girls.
“Every woman must have the opportunity to chart her own course, realise her potential, be treated with respect and live without fear,” stated the State Secretary.
The review of the periodic report by CEDAW enables international experts to assess the country’s progress in fulfilling its obligations to eliminate discrimination against women. The indicators presented reflect the development of specific support measures; however, to assess their effectiveness, it is also important to consider the accessibility of services, the quality of support provided to victims and the actual reduction in gender inequality.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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