The Government of Sweden and UN Women Moldova have signed a new agreement to promote gender equality and women’s rights in Moldova for 2016-2020, IPN reports.

In a press release, UN Women Moldova says the agreement comes in support to the implementation of the UN Women’s Strategic Note for Moldova aiming to continue to empower women in Moldova, especially the most vulnerable groups. The total Swedish contribution is 20 million Swedish Krona (US$ 2.36 million).

With the support of Sweden, UN Women Moldova will continue leading its innovative approach to solve inequalities in the three main directions of its work: women in leadership; women economic empowerment, and eliminating violence against women.

“For Sweden, gender equality and women’s empowerment is an overall priority for our Government both at home, but also in our international development cooperation abroad,” noted Sweden’s Ambassador to Moldova Signe Burgstaller. “Here in Moldova we’ve been very happy to partner with UN Women for all these years and now our partnership will enter a new phase.”

For her part, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, UN Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, said gender equality and women’s empowerment is not a quick fix. “It is something that you really need to work on long term. It’s a marathon and you need perseverance, conviction and commitment and we need that kind of partners that follow closely our work,” stated the official.

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN Women has started the cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden in 2007.