On 13 February 2024, Doina Gherman, the Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, initiated a public discussion aimed at addressing the digital violence against women. Supported by the Council of Europe and the UNFPA Moldova, the event marked a significant step forward in the Moldovan authorities’ commitment to women's rights and safety in the digital sphere. Highlighting the importance of adapting the legal framework, Ms Gherman emphasised the need for implementation mechanisms, specialist training programs, and public awareness campaigns. The event served as a platform for national authorities, civil society, and international organisations to discuss the challenges and gaps and explore the next steps.

At the event, the Council of Europe presented a comprehensive study on the digital dimension of violence against women in the Republic of Moldova which provides recommendations for legislative adjustments in line with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).

”The event comes at a critical juncture as digital violence, encompassing online harassment, abuse, and non-consensual use of images, inflicts profound psychological and emotional harm on its victims” mentioned Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau in his opening speech.

The event was organised by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova with the support of  the Council of Europe and UNFPA Moldova in the framework of the Council of Europe project "Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova".