Laws and Policies that Protect Women’s Rights and Contribute to the Prevention of Violence

An effective response to violence against women and domestic violence requires sound legislation, coherent public policies, and institutions that implement them effectively. For this reason, the Women’s Law Centre works to ensure that legislation and policies in the Republic of Moldova are aligned with women’s rights and international standards on the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.

The Women’s Law Centre monitors the implementation of relevant laws and policies, analyses the experiences of women who access the justice system and protection services, and identifies gaps and challenges in the response of public authorities.

Based on research, our experience of working directly with women, and international standards, we develop proposals and recommendations to improve legislation and public policies and advocate for changes that contribute to a more effective and coordinated response to violence against women.

Monitoring the Implementation of Laws and Policies

Adopting a law is only the first step. For legislation to bring about real change in women’s lives, it must be properly and consistently implemented.

The Women’s Law Centre monitors the implementation of national legislation and policies on the prevention of and response to violence against women and domestic violence. We analyse how institutions fulfil their responsibilities and identify barriers that may prevent women from accessing protection, services, and effective justice.

Particular attention is paid to the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and other relevant international standards, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Through monitoring and analysis, we help identify areas where the national framework needs to be strengthened and advocate for legislation and policies to be brought into line with international standards.

Research to Understand What Needs to Change

Research is one of the tools through which the Women’s Law Centre transforms women’s experiences and evidence from practice into public policy recommendations.

We analyse how institutions respond to cases of violence, women’s access to justice, and the effectiveness of protection and support mechanisms. We also examine the barriers women face and identify solutions that can improve the State’s response.

Our research findings enable us to develop evidence-based recommendations and advocate for legislative and institutional changes that address real-world challenges.

Where relevant, we also examine the experience of other countries and European good practices in order to identify solutions that can be adapted and applied in the Republic of Moldova.

Promoting Change through Advocacy

The Women’s Law Centre uses research findings and the experience gained through its work to advocate for changes in legislation and public policies.

We participate in consultation and dialogue processes with public authorities, contribute to the development and improvement of legislation, and formulate recommendations for a more effective response to violence against women and domestic violence.

Through our advocacy work, we promote policies that place women’s rights, safety, and dignity at their core and ensure women’s access to justice and quality specialised services.

We believe that sustainable change is possible when civil society, public authorities, professionals, the media, and other relevant individuals and organisations work together. Therefore, the Women’s Law Centre collaborates with key civil society actors, including members of the National Coalition “Life without Violence”, as well as representatives of public authorities, the media, and opinion leaders.

Promoting a Coordinated and Women’s Rights-Based Response

Violence against women is a complex phenomenon that requires a response from multiple institutions and sectors. The police, justice system, social services, healthcare system, and other institutions must be able to work together effectively to ensure women’s protection and access to justice.

The Women’s Law Centre promotes a multisectoral approach and a coordinated response to cases of violence. We support policies and mechanisms that ensure clear institutional responsibilities, effective cooperation, and a system in which women do not have to navigate a complex system on their own in order to receive help.

Our experience of working directly with women enables us to identify challenges that arise in practice and bring them to the attention of decision-makers. In this way, women’s experiences and needs become part of the process of improving public policies.

From Women’s Experiences to Systemic Change

For the Women’s Law Centre, policy change begins with understanding the realities women face.

The experience of each woman we support, the data we collect, the research we conduct, and our analysis of the legislative framework help us identify what works and what needs to change. We use this information to promote evidence-based solutions and contribute to the development of a more effective system for preventing and responding to violence.

We want public policies and legislation not to exist merely on paper, but to bring about real change in women’s lives.

Through its work in the area of policies, the Women’s Law Centre contributes to building a legislative and institutional framework in which women affected by violence have access to effective protection, justice, and quality services. Our goal is for national legislation and policies to be aligned with international standards and, above all, to genuinely respond to the needs and rights of women.