Moldovan NGOs innovate to stop violence against women

In Drochia, Moldova, the majority of crimes committed are related to domestic violence. Staff of the Ariadna centre assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence. A separate approach works with the aggressors as well. Photo: UN Women/Marina Vatav

Across the country, organizations are trying new ways to eliminate domestic violence in Moldova, where 63 per cent of women have been subjected to at least one form of sexual, physical, psychological or economic domestic violence.

To trial innovative approaches to eliminating violence against women, UN Women has provided small grants to six Moldovan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) based in Chişinău, Drochia, Hânceşti and Căuşeni that have been actively piloting new approaches, sharing them with other groups and, in turn, learning from others’ experiences.

The maternity centre Ariadna in Drochia, northern Moldova uses “positive champions”—women who escaped the vicious circle of domestic violence—to encourage survivors of violence to speak up and share their stories with other women who suffer violence in their home.

Rodica Carpenco, one of Ariadna’s positive champions, is convinced of the power of speaking up: “Our society still does not recognize domestic violence as a real problem. I was married three times, and each time was subjected to violence. The centre helped me for eight long years. Now my personal experience helps others.”

See the full story on the UN Women Europe and Central Asia regional website.