The Second Family Festival started in Moldova today, May 10, and will culminate on May 15 when the world celebrates the International Family Day, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Festival aims to raise public awareness of the family values and promote the institution of family and its moral implications, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga told a news conference today. The main difference from the Festival's first edition is in that this year it will be held in 10 districts, unlike last year when the Festival covered only the country's three municipalities. Also the program of events is expected to be ampler and will include round-tables, contests, concerts etc; visits will be made to families with many children and families in difficult situations, said Valentina Buliga. Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister Ion Negrei, who chairs the commission on equality of chances, said the need to hold the Family Festival is determined by the fact that Moldova is facing a host of challenges like a high rate of divorce divorces, child abandonment, children born outside of wedlock, domestic violence, etc. Statistically, one in two marriages in Moldova ends in divorce, one in five women suffers from domestic violence, and one in ten children is left behind by one or both parents working abroad, added Ion Negrei. Deputy UNDP Representative Boris Galca enumerated other challenges faced by a family in Moldova. “Many couples prefer domestic partnership (to marriage), the young married couples limit themselves to giving birth to one child, while the birth of two children merely keeps the birth rate flat. This Festival is an opportunity to show these issues to society and contribute to solving them”, said Boris Galca. Introduced in 1993 by the UN General Assembly, the International Day of Families is a public holiday in Moldova. The Family Festival is organized by the Moldovan Government in cooperation with the UN agencies. In continuation of the Festival, a large outdoor event will be held on May 16 in Chisinau's Stefan cel Mare Park.