On 4 October 2023, the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, organised a round table to analyse the mechanisms for coordinating inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation in the field of preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The event was inaugurated by Falk Lange, the Head of the Office of the Council of Europe in Chisinau, and Lilia Pascal, the Head of the Political Department responsible for ensuring gender equality at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
“As we sit together at this table, we are immediately reminded of the critical importance of our collective mission. Violence against women and domestic violence are scourges that undermine the very essence of our shared values and principles. They not only inflict physical and emotional pain upon victims but also strike at the core of our commitment to justice, equality, and dignity for all. The Istanbul Convention, a beacon of hope and progress, reminds us that no single entity or institution can confront these issues in isolation. It is only through a harmonious coordination, collaboration, and collective action that we can hope to eradicate this deeply rooted problem from our society. This report precisely explores that – the mechanisms and structures required for such coordination.” remarked Mr. Lange during his introductory speech (the full speech can be found below).
The event presented the key findings and recommendations from a study on coordination of inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation in the field of preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, developed with the support of the Council of Europe. Also, discussions were enlarged to cover strategic visions on a specialised agency on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in the Republic of Moldova.
“Today's study comes to fortify and ensure compliance with the principles of the coordinated policies pillar, which forms a crucial basis for subsequently ensuring compliance with the other pillars that constitute the gold standard in the field. Through this activity, we also collectively contribute to the implementation of the second Country Program aimed at combating violence against women. Thus, step by step, through fruitful partnerships, we will ensure the achievement of national objectives and, more importantly, contribute to a practical implementation of the Istanbul Convention. Respectively, our common hope will culminate in substantial results in the forthcoming evaluations conducted by the GREVIO group of experts.” pointed the representative from the Ministry.
The event was organised by the Council of Europe project "Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in the Republic of Moldova".
