Members of the Government and Parliament are being trained in family planning and sexual and reproductive rights in national workshops on June 21, IPN reports.
Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Stela Grigoras said the sexual and reproductive health and family planning have a very important impact on demography. Moldova needs new policies that would contribute to the observance of human rights, gender equality and reproductive health. “As a country, we should invest in women and promote active policies to support the population. In particular, we should invest in young people,” stated the minister.
Minister of Health Ruxanda Glavan said that in 1998, Moldova, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched an important reform in the perinatal sector, improving the quality of medical services provided during pregnancy and after birth giving. The opening of family planning offices and of over 40 youth-friendly centers was an important step. In 2017, the Ministry aims to cover the costs of in vitro fertilization for at least 100 couples that cannot have children.
UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Director Alanna Armitage said the investment in the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women in the Republic of Moldova is an investment in the future. “When the women and teens have access to sexual and reproductive health services they can enjoy their decisions. It is very important for all the couples to have the right to decide freely and responsibly how many children they want to have, at what distance from a child to another, etc.” stated Alanna Armitage.
“The event brings a new impulse for combining efforts in working out public policies based on evidence and the practice of other countries would help make the life of girls, women, boys and men in Moldova better,” stated UNFPA Representative in Moldova Rita Columbia.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Moldova Signe Burgstaller noted the access to sexual and reproductive health services is directly related to such aspects as poverty reduction, sustainable economic development and gender equality.
The workshops were staged by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family and the Ministry of Health together with UNFPA, the Embassy of Sweden and the Office of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Chisinau as part of Moldova’s participation in the global initiative #SheDecides.
The global fundraising initiative #SheDecides was launched this March. It involves 45 countries, including the Republic of Moldova.
