Nongovernmental organizations promoting the equality of chances between men and women on January 28 made a public call to the leaders of the Political Alliance for the European Moldova by which they ask them to show consistency and political will in ensuring gender equality in all the bodies of the new legislature and in the process of forming the Government, IPN reports.

“We ascertain with regret that the women MPs are underrepresented in the political factions and in the administration of Parliament and the Standing Bureau. The agreement on the constitution of the alliance does not set out clear and firm commitments for ensuring gender quality during the current government term,” it is said in the appeal.

The NGOs ask that the executive posts in the parliamentary commission and delegations should be divided based on the principle of gender equality. A parliamentary commission should be set up to ensure and promote gender equality. The government program must provide that the use of violence against women is a serious violation of the human rights in Moldova.

The organizations demand that the government program should be worked out with the broad involvement of representatives of civil society and that their proposals should be made part of the Government’s commitments and priorities as these will contribute to building authentic democracy.

The appeal was signed by the NGO Council, the Partnership for Development Center, the Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Business Support, Gender-Centru, the Women’s Political Club, East Europe Foundation, the International Center “La Strada”, the Women’s Law Center, the Nondiscrimination Coalition, the Forum of Women Organizations of Moldova, and the Institute of Public Policy.