The Republic of Moldova has joined the global initiative #SheDecides that is designed to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women in Moldova. For the purpose, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, UNFPA, the Embassy of Sweden and the Embassy Office of the Netherlands in Chisinau have launched a common campaign to promote the initiative, IPN reports.
UNFPA Representative in the Republic of Moldova Rita Columbia in a press club meeting said that when girls and women have access to sexual and reproductive health services and their sexual and reproductive rights are respected, they can take correct decisions as regards their body and welfare.
A signaled problem is the lack of information for girls whose mothers go abroad to work. Rita Columbia said in discussions with teenage girls aged 16, these said they don’t know that the unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and do not know that they can benefit from free contraceptives. “UNFPA, as part of the initiative #SheDecides, together with the partners, pledged to ensure that all the girls and women in the Republic of Moldova can exercise their right to informed decisions about their health and life,” stated Rita Columbia.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Moldova Signe Burgstaller said the Republic of Moldova has made progress in realizing the rights of women and equality of chances during the last few years, but a lot is yet to be done, while #SheDecides is a very powerful statement that is assumed by everyone.
Charge d’affaires of the Embassy Office of the Netherlands in Chisinau Roy Hans said an open society is a society that ensures the involvement of all the women and girls in the decision-making process. For a country to be prosperous, it is vital for everyone to know their role and to act depending on abilities.
Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Stela Grigoras said each woman and girl in Moldova should enjoy programs and services related to sexual and reproductive health and family planning together and this is can be ensured if all the central public institutions and development partners combine efforts.
The global initiative #SheDecides was instituted on March 2, 2017 and brings together representatives from more than 45 counties, including Moldova, who are members of the Government, Parliament and representatives of civil society who expressed their support for the rights of women. #SheDecides centers on the sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially family planning, as a basis for ensuring gender equality, women’s empowerment and economic development of women and men.
