Putting a stop to domestic violence in Moldova

Image © National Coalition for Life Without Violence

In 2021, the Moldovan Parliament ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence. This was a major victory for women’s rights, and much of this success can be attributed to the organised women’s movements in Moldova.

When the Issues Affecting Women Programme (IAWP) first visited Moldova in 2011, Moldova was known as a country of origin for thousands of women and girls who were victims of human trafficking across Western Europe and the Middle East.

“We initially decided to visit Moldova to understand more about the human trafficking issue,” says programme officer, Medina Haeri. “However, on speaking with the anti-trafficking organisations working in the country, it soon became clear that there was a key driver behind the high rates of trafficking – domestic violence.”

A 2011 report published by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova revealed that 6 out of 10 women in Moldova aged 15 or older had experienced physical, psychological, or sexual violence from an intimate partner over their lifetimes. To compound the problem, legal protection in place for the thousands of women fleeing domestic violence situations in Moldova was weak and unevenly enforced. In addition, the country’s only dedicated domestic violence shelter in Chisinau, the capital, was on the verge of closing down due to a lack of funding.

“When we dug deeper, we realised that there were very few services providing specialised support to survivors,” says Katharina Samara-Wickrama, director of the IAWP. In addition, there was no coordination or collective advocacy demanding better protections for the women and girls experiencing high levels of violence.

It was against this backdrop that Oak decided to fund a group of small but determined women’s rights groups working on the issue of violence to come together to try to address the issue. In 2012, 12 women’s groups and organisations in Moldova formed the National Coalition for a Life without Violence. This was the first ever network focused specifically on reducing gender-based violence and building public awareness of the situation. Together, the coalition set out to improve services for women and their children, and to advocate for greater protection from violence through national commitments, funding, and legislation.

This was a tall order, given the challenging context. The executive director of the coalition, Veronica Teleuca remembers those early years as a difficult period: “The first members of the coalition had zero history of working together. We had to build trust and jointly define our mission, values, and principles. Over time, we started to understand that social change of such depth and complexity cannot be made by a single organisation, and that we have to be connected. We needed to build a movement.”

Maria Scorodinschi, from the town of Drochia in the north of Moldova, is just one of many women involved in the movement. Having experienced domestic violence herself, she supports and inspires other women survivors to seek help. She told the coalition: “I talk to women about domestic violence, about their rights – after hearing my story, they trusted me, told me their stories, and reached out to the police or support organisations.”

The coalition has since grown to a network of 21 not-for-profit organisations. Together, they collaborate to provide survivors of gender-based and domestic violence with shelter and rehabilitation, legal and psychological support, and economic empowerment services. This support helps survivors rebuild their lives and create a more hopeful future for themselves and their children.

Oleasa, a teacher based in Chisinau and a survivor, received help from Casa Marioarei, a member of the coalition that provides psychological, social, legal, and medical assistance, as well as shelter to women and children survivors of domestic violence. She says, “In other ways, I am free now – optimistic, confident, strong, courageous, and with many, many ideas.”

A major milestone for Life Without Violence came in 2021, when its efforts helped lead to the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by the Moldovan Parliament on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The convention was a major victory for women’s rights. It requires the government to adopt or improve legislation on matters such as rape, sexual harassment, oppression, and forced marriage. It will become the basis for Moldova’s national strategy to combat violence against women. “The Moldovan ratification of the Istanbul Convention is truly a remarkable feat and the work of the coalition to make that happen cannot be overstated,” says Katharina. “These organisations and activists have transformed Moldova from acountry with virtually no domestic violence infrastructure to a model for the region.”

Indeed, Moldova has become an inspiration for activists across Europe working towards greater state recognition and accountability for combatting domestic violence. Thanks to the work of the coalition, there are more services, and better standards and support for women and their children facing domestic violence across the country, and violence is considered a topic of high importance in society. For example, the national helpline – The Trust Line for Women and Girls – was originally set up and run by a coalition member, and is now a state-run public service. In addition, the coalition is now an active member of the WAVE Network, which includes over 170 European women’s organisations working towards the prevention and protection of women and children from violence.

“Despite our difficult mission, we are united. We believe in equal rights for all,” says Veronica Teleuca. “The trust we’ve built through years of working together has created a powerful force for change. We’re proud that we have continued to provide better services for women and families in Moldova. And by continuing to raise awareness of gender-based violence, we can create a society where it is not considered normal or justified – in the home, or anywhere else.”

Oak Foundation supports the National Coalition for a Life without Violence, as well as nine of its member organisations through our Issues Affecting Women Programme (IAWP). We believe that all women and girls should be safe, free, and have an equal chance to thrive. We find inspiration and hope in strong and vibrant movements, built and led by women, which are transforming lives and communities across the world. Read more about IAWP’s strategy on our website.