UN Women Moldova Strategic Note 2023-2027 implementation

2023 During the reporting year, under Outcome 1 on Gender-Responsive Services, an increased trend of reporting domestic violence cases was recorded (1,510 cases filled in 2023 compared to 1,274 in 2022), as well as an increase in protection orders issues by law enforcement officers (540 protection orders in 2023 compared to 503 in 2022). UN Women Moldova provided extensive technical assistance and advice to the government, alongside important capacity development and mentoring initiatives, in achieving the above-mentioned milestones in eliminating violence against women (EVAW) along the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention. Under Outcome 2 on Gender-Responsive Governance, important progress was achieved on improving the gender responsiveness of national policies, as well as on the share of women representation in local governance. Following the 2023 local elections, women secured 40.3 per cent of local council seats (a nearly 4 per cent increase from 2019) and 33.3 per cent of district councils seats (a 6.2. per cent increase). The share of women mayors reached 25 per cent, marking a 2.19 per cent increase since 2019. National-level public policies have improved from the perspective of mainstreaming gender equality within the proper objectives and targets, as shown through the Gender Mainstreaming in Public Policies Index, which recorded an increase of 0.98 points in 2023, reaching a score of 1.86 (out of 4 as the highest score) compared to 0.88 in 2015-2016. Under Outcome 3 on Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development, an increase of 3.8 per cent in the women labor force participation rate was recorded in 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year (from 28.0 per cent to 41.8 per cent) due to improved legislation, endorsed tailored programmes for women employment, as well as increased investment in childcare services to which UN Women provided systematic and cross-sectoral support. Over 400 women and men in the public security system and private sector now benefit from childcare services within their workplaces, enhancing their work-life balance and career advancement. Through the direct support of UN Women, 36 women initiated new businesses, while 182 expanded their existing ones, experiencing a collective turnover increase of 1 million MDL. Under Outcome 4 on Coordination and the Peace-Development-Humanitarian Nexus, the second generation National Programme and National Action Plan (NAP) for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was endorsed by the government in 2023, with specific objectives to increase women meaningful participation in the security and defense sectors and conflict negotiations. UN Women provided extensive expert assistance in the consultative drafting and costing of the five-year NAP and supported the Ministry of Internal Affairs in coordination and implementation of the plan, affirmed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2023.

UN Women Global Strategic Plan has four impact areas: 1. Governance & participation in Public Life With an overall emphasis on effective and transparent institutions and evidence-based policymaking that promote women's empowerment, the UN Women Moldova CO will continue to build the capacities of the National Women's machinery, relevant line ministries, and local governments in mainstreaming GEWE in their respective plans and measures in order to implement the 2030 Agenda, as well as other national plans and international recommendations. At central level, the CO will support both the development and monitoring of the gender-responsiveness of policy framework, action plans and internal ministerial documents frameworks to advance gender equality. 2. Economic Empowerment & Resilience UN Women Moldova will continue to focus on policy advice and technical support to relevant legislative bodies, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and related state agencies to amend national legislation on labor, addressing the unequal, unpaid care burden among women. The work with the private sector will focus on the promotion of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the corporate and quasi-public sectors, reduction of the gap in wages, promotion of targets and/or quotas for women in managerial positions, improving labor legislation and rural womens access to entrepreneurship, and creation of public-private partnerships to support various women's initiatives. Womens access to income, through decent employment opportunities and social security, are a foundation for womens economic empowerment and the achievement of substantive equality. 3. Ending Violence against women & girls The emphasis under this Outcome will be on empowering women and girls, including from the most vulnerable groups and survivors of violence, to equally participate in social, political, and economic development. To that end, the CO will continue its efforts to ensure that womens voice and agency is strengthened in the design and implementation of policies that consider the diverse needs of women and men. The EVAW portfolio will take a holistic approach. This includes engaging with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders at the central and local level, as well as addressing prevention, protection, support and integrated services. Improvements to services will be in line with the Istanbul Convention and best international practices and feature improved VAW case management for relevant service providers based on best national and international practices. 4. Peace& Security, Humanitarian Action & Disaster Risk Reduction UN Women in Moldova will leverage its coordination mandate to ensure that gender equality and womens empowerment (GEWE) are promoted across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. To further expand humanitarian aid and coordination localization, UN Women will continue to test avenues for the inclusion of Moldovan women-led and womens rights organizations in humanitarian architecture, planning, response, and financing. UN Women will continue to support the existing three Womens Associations from the Security and Defense sectors and potential ones that may be established. It will also focus on increasing womens meaningful participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes, and will support the functioning of the informal Womens Advisory Board (WAB).