Training on gender equality within the project “Empowering women, local communities and refugees in Moldova”

The Women’s Law Centre organized its first training course on gender equality within the project “Empowering women, local communities and refugees in Moldova”, implemented with the financial support provided the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The Project involves 30 participants, 15 women and 15 men, selected from 10 districts of the Republic of Moldova: Orhei, Soroca, Glodeni, Causeni, Stefan Vodă, Ialoveni, Criuleni, Cimislia, Donduseni and Floresti.

WLC launched this Project in August 2023 aiming to create a positive environment for women’s economic, social, and educational empowerment. By actively engaging women, men, and relevant authorities, we strive to build inclusive and sustainable communities, combat gender stereotypes, shape behaviors and redefine gender roles in a joint effort to identify viable solutions to local needs.

The Project includes a complex training program on gender equality, writing of project proposals and communication with stakefolders, round tables with local public authorities, communication actions involving entire communities, and implementation of local initiatives on gender equality and promotion of women’s rights.

The first series of trainings held between 14-16 December 2023 included workshops focused on 5 essential modules:

• gender equality, combating gender stereotypes, causes, behavior models, gender roles;
• non-violent communication, mediation of conflicts in issues related to gender equality;
• workshop with promoters of gender equality;
• identifying and establishing needs at the community level in the field of ensuring gender equality;
• communication with local public authorities and other important actors at the local level about issues related to gender equality.

A special guest was Olga Bulmaga, Secretary of the Council for Equality of the Republic of Moldova, who presented the activity of the Council and discussed with workshop participants about the most pressing issues related to prevention and protection against discrimination, ensuring equality, promoting equal opportunities and diversity.

A highlight of the training program was the workshop with prominent leading figures working in the field of gender equality. Participants had the opportunity to interact and learn from the experience of people who are drivers of change, to draw inspiration from their success stories and lessons learned. We thank the guests, Angelina Zaporojan-Pîrgari, Executive Director, Women’s Law Centre, Sergiu Toma, Executive Director, Institute for Family and Social Initiatives, and Petru Golban, expert in the field of men’s involvement in family life, for their openness and for the valuable advice and for the best practices shared with participants.

During the session, participants in each district drafted a preliminary action plan for implementing gender equality initiatives in their communities. They also worked on identifying local stakeholders to be approached for future joint activities and planned the next steps to be taken in communicating with the population in their communities.

After the completion of the capacity building program, the trained persons will be invited to form teams in each district, to develop project proposals that will respond to a problem related to gender equality, discrimination, violence in family etc., identified in their community. In the end, ten projects will be selected and funded by the Women’s Law Centre, with the financial support provided by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).