Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend the Efforts of the Republic of Moldova to Combat Domestic Violence, Raise Questions on Human Trafficking and Gender Equality in the Workplace
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the seventh periodic report of the Republic of Moldova on its efforts to comply with the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Committee Experts commended the State party on efforts to combat domestic violence, while raising questions on human trafficking and gender equality in the workplace.
A Committee Expert commended the Republic of Moldova on its adherence to the Istanbul Convention and the system of monitoring by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which allowed further improvement of legislation and practice. The legislative reform carried out between 2023 and 2026, including a law criminalising femicide, and the establishment of the National Agency for Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence as a coordinating body, were positive practices.
One Expert asked what measures had been adopted to guarantee periodic inspections of residential institutions and guarantee protection from trafficking, as well as instigate deinstitutionalisation? Roma women and girls living on the street were particularly exposed to trafficking. What had been the impact of measures designed to protect this group from trafficking? What measures had been implemented to identify cases of trafficking, both online and offline?
A Committee Expert asked what steps the State party aimed to take to bridge the remaining gaps to ensure a safe and non-discriminatory workplace? What measures was the State party intending to take to address the high gender wage gap in the country? What was being done to address the issues faced by elderly women? How was the retirement timeline for men and women being harmonised?
Introducing the report, Felicia Bechtoldt, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Protection of Family of the Republic of Moldova and head of the delegation, said the Republic of Moldova worked to integrate gender equality into policymaking, budgeting and monitoring across public institutions, including through the expansion of gender-responsive budgeting, which was a major development. Since 2025, ministries had been required to include gender-sensitive objectives and indicators in budget planning, and the number of gender-sensitive budget programmes had grown significantly. The next priority was ensuring that these investments translated into measurable reductions in inequalities.
Responding to questions, the delegation said the Parliament had recently adopted a new law to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and improve the protection of victims. Criminal legislation also introduced aggravating circumstances for the use of technology in trafficking-related activities. The law provided greater attention for foreign victims of trafficking. To align national legislation with European Union legislation, a draft law was being processed, which included defining the definition of victims and establishing their right to be heard by someone of the same sex, among other elements.
The delegation said a law had been drafted on the State’s position of the European Union Directive for equal pay for equal work, which was currently under consultation. Courses were being provided at the University of Moldova for elderly people to enable them to gain a job in a different occupation or improve their skills in their current occupation. The State wanted to provide vouchers for formal and non-formal training to the elderly population.
In closing remarks, Ms. Bechtoldt thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue which had highlighted the progress achieved and areas where further efforts were needed. The main challenge was not just adopting legislation, but ensuring consistent and adequate resources.
In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked the Republic of Moldova for all its efforts during the dialogue
The delegation of the Republic of Moldova was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Protection of Family; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry; the Ministry of Education and Research; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Finance; the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; the Central Electoral Commission; the General Inspectorate of Police; the Office of the Prosecutor General; the Agency for Interethnic Relations; and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s ninety-third session is being held from 5 to 30 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. on Monday, 12 October, to meet with civil society representatives from Paraguay, Togo, Angola and Cabo Verde, whose reports the Committee will review next week.
Report
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of the Republic of Moldova (CEDAW/C/MDA/7).
Presentation of Report
FELICIA BECHTOLDT, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Protection of Family of the Republic of Moldova and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for its recommendations, which had guided many of the State’s reforms in recent years. Since the last dialogue, the Republic of Moldova had faced multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of over one million Ukrainians seeking safety, and a severe energy crisis. These challenges had placed unprecedented pressure on public systems, but also reinforced the importance of gender equality, especially during times of instability.
Despite these pressures, the Republic of Moldova continued advancing gender equality, shifting focus from adopting legislation to ensuring effective implementation. The European Union accession process had accelerated reforms, including alignment with European Union standards on equal treatment, social protection and gender balance in decision-making. The State had also strengthened its legal framework on gender equality and non-discrimination, including updated definitions of discrimination and greater recognition of intersectional forms of disadvantage affecting Roma women, women with disabilities, rural women and refugees.
The Republic of Moldova worked to integrate gender equality into policymaking, budgeting and monitoring across public institutions, including through the expansion of gender-responsive budgeting, which was a major development. Since 2025, ministries had been required to include gender-sensitive objectives and indicators in budget planning, and the number of gender-sensitive budget programmes had grown significantly. The next priority was ensuring that these investments translated into measurable reductions in inequalities.
Since 2024, the Republic of Moldova had been developing an integrated system for collecting disaggregated data on gender-based violence. New digital systems and national indicators allowed better monitoring of prevalence, institutional responses and outcomes for victims. The State’s objective was not just to count cases but also to assess whether victims received timely and effective protection and support.
Long-standing stereotypes continued to affect care responsibilities, women's employment opportunities and tolerance of violence. In response, the Republic of Moldova was investing in education reform, reducing occupational segregation, promoting girls' participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and encouraging greater involvement of men in family responsibilities. New national awareness campaigns aimed to achieve lasting changes in social norms.
The State was bringing services closer to beneficiaries through local infrastructure, mobile services and digitalisation. Investments in healthcare, employment support, education, legal aid and e-government services were helping to reduce territorial disparities and improve access for rural women, Roma women, women from ethnic minorities and women living on the left bank of the Nistru River.
The Republic of Moldova had moved towards an integrated system based on prevention, protection, risk assessment, specialised services and perpetrator accountability. Recent reforms included criminalising forced marriage, introducing femicide into criminal legislation, strengthening case-management procedures, expanding shelters and improving medical and police responses.
Digital forms of abuse were now being increasingly recognised in legislation. The Republic of Moldova had introduced new reporting and support mechanisms, including the eViolența platform, while strengthening investigative capacities and media oversight. Priorities aimed to improve prevention, reporting, victim protection and responses to emerging threats such as manipulated content and deepfakes.
The Republic of Moldova was promoting greater involvement of fathers, family-friendly workplaces and expanded childcare services. Additional support was being provided through home-based care and community services for older persons and persons with disabilities. These measures were contributing to higher levels of women's employment and reinforcing the principle that care responsibilities should be shared by families, employers and public institutions.
The State was pursuing a more rights-based approach for women engaged in commercial sex by reducing vulnerability and improving access to services. Additionally, access to sexual and reproductive health services continued to be expanded through updated protocols, improved coverage and efforts to reduce regional disparities, particularly for rural women and adolescents.
Taken together, these reforms highlighted that gender equality was no longer treated as a standalone policy area. For the Republic of Moldova, the Convention was not only an international obligation, but a commitment to ensuring that every woman and every girl could exercise her rights safely, with dignity, without discrimination and with equal opportunities.
VLADIMIR CUC, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the Republic of Moldova held multiple roles within United Nations bodies, and was sitting for a seat on the Council in 2029. The State was also sponsoring several resolutions pertaining to the rights of women and girls.
Questions by Committee Experts
MARIANNE MIKKO, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed the high-level delegation of the Republic of Moldova. Having served as the Chair of the Moldova delegation in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009, she had visited the Republic of Moldova many times and noted that overall gender equality in Moldova was improving. Ms. Mikko congratulated President Maia Sandu on her re-election to a second term. However, women in politics were the top targets of online misogyny. The Republic of Moldova still had no legal or institutional mechanisms to prevent or sanction gendered political violence.
Positive developments included the amendments to legal frameworks, the integration of the gender dimension into public policies, and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2022. Ms. Mikko welcomed the improved quality of State-guaranteed legal aid and the renovation of court buildings to enhance accessibility. The State party's commitment to assisting female migrants, especially tens of thousands of Ukrainian women and girls, was acknowledged, while questions remained on how these women were protected against intersecting forms of discrimination.
The Republic of Moldova had promoted the Convention through institutional mechanisms and training programmes, yet it remained unclear whether these efforts had any measurable impact on women's rights in practice. The continued absence of a legal definition of discrimination against women was a key issue, alongside the lack of gender-sensitive, disaggregated data and gender-responsive budgeting needed to monitor impact on vulnerable women. Other concerns included insufficient gender equality mechanisms, the prosecution of domestic violence cases, and access to legal aid, victim support, and remedies for survivors, among other issues.
What monitoring or accountability mechanisms existed to ensure consistent application of Convention principles across the justice system? What specific steps had been taken to raise women's awareness of the remedies available to them under the Convention? What was the current situation with the draft law providing a comprehensive definition of discrimination against women, and how did the State party intend to address the remaining legislative gaps? Was there a standardised data collection system disaggregated by sex, age and disability, applicable to all relevant public policies? What measures did the State party foresee to repeal article 78 of the Contravention Code, or adopt binding guidance to ensure its consistent application by justice professionals? What measures had the State party taken to expand geographically accessible, free legal aid, interpretation, and mediation services for rural, marginalised, minority, migrant and refugee women?
RANGITA DE SILVA DE ALWIS, Committee Expert and Follow-up Rapporteur for individual complaints, said the Committee took positive note that, following a court case, the Republic of Moldova had reformed the law on public social insurance pensions to provide coverage to parents who were carers of children with severe disabilities. The Republic of Moldova had also established a working group, tasked with strengthening the social rights of persons with disabilities. The Committee applauded these reforms. The State party was invited to allow mothers of children with severe disabilities to remain in employment if they wished to.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said in 2023, the State had started implementing the social assistance reform, with the aim of expanding social assistance services in every corner of the country. Mobile teams had been expanded in each region, visiting individual villages to provide services for women with disabilities, children at risk and elderly people, while also monitoring the situation of this population at risk. In 2022, the National Employment Agency introduced mobile teams to ensure employment opportunities were being provided and rural communities were being included. The level of poverty in the country was relatively high, and the State had extended help to ensure more support in this area, particularly for women who faced lower employment rates. A law had recently been passed which included direct and indirect forms of discrimination within the definition, mandating all State policies to consider cross-cutting discrimination across services and programmes.
Over the past five years, the State’s legal aid budget had increased, including a 100 per cent increase from 2022 to 2023. The number of Roma people receiving legal aid was on the rise. Paralegals had a key role in ensuring access to justice for vulnerable groups. The National Legal Aid Council had established mobile teams that provided free legal assistance, travelling to rural areas where there were no paralegals to support vulnerable individuals who could not afford to hire a lawyer.
In 2024, a Government decision was passed, requiring all national programmes to contain disaggregated data on gender equality and disability. The Republic of Moldova had also passed a Government decision this year to create an information system, which would compile all gender-based data from all Government institutions. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection had been working to develop an information system in social assistance, which informed the State of the best intervention actions to prevent situations of risk.
Persons with disabilities were entitled to State legal aid, irrespective of their incomes. A draft law had been established which included the right to complain about the quality of translation during court cases, ensuring the full right to defence. There were two legal provisions in the Republic of Moldova pertaining to violence; less serious cases fell under administrative offences, with more serious cases and non-physical forms of violence falling under the category of criminal offences. The State aimed to train judges, criminal prosecutors and the judiciary to adequately determine the kind of offence and conduct investigations. Following the 2023 social reform, psychologists were appointed within each department; they were trained on how to provide services to victims of domestic violence.
The staff of the State’s Gender Department had increased, and evaluated each law through a gender lens, providing recommendations when they were not up to task. Women were informed about their rights and available remedies through the Equality Council, State bodies and civil society. The Republic of Moldova had recently adopted a new law on mediation, which aimed to strengthen mediation as an alternate resolution to disputes; however, disputes concerning violence were excluded from mediation. There were currently more than 300 active mediators within the State party.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert commended the Republic of Moldova’s pilot programmes on gender-responsive budgeting and recommended further institutionalising these initiatives. Had the State party considered legally mandating gender-responsive budgeting across the full budget cycle by amending the public finance law and the framework for budget development, approval and amendment? Would the State party establish a coordination and monitoring structure to oversee the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting, and strengthen the collection of sex and intersecting factors? How would the State party ensure the integration of gender units into consolidated municipalities, with the allocation of adequate resources? What steps would the State party take to integrate gender equality perspectives and mechanisms into the public administration reform strategy 2027-2030?
The Committee welcomed the draft revised regulation of the Government Commission for Equality between Women and Men and stressed the importance of cooperation with civil society and monitoring of its recommendations. What steps would the State party undertake to ensure the timely adoption of this regulation, with adequate resources allocated? The Committee was concerned about the financial vulnerability of the Moldovan national human rights institutions due to their dependence on the executive branch and external funding. The recent law that limited the Ombudsman’s immunity was particularly concerning. What steps would the State party take to amend law no. 1/2023 to restore functional immunity for the People’s Advocate Office in accordance with the Paris Principles? How would adequate resources and financial independence for its Ombudsman and Equality Council be ensured?
Another Expert said there were genuine temporary special measures in place within the State party, including that the Electoral Code set a minimum 40 per cent quota for each sex on candidate lists, with at least four candidates of each sex for every 10 places. However, there were several concerns, including the lower rates of women as political candidates and low levels of women who were elected, as well as a lack of quotas for Government appointments and low enforcement. Additionally, there were no measures for women with disabilities or rural women.
Would the State party introduce a gender quota for appointments to the Government and to leadership positions in law enforcement? Would the Republic of Moldova consider alternating women and men at the top of candidate lists, with sanctions for non-compliance? Did the quota apply to elections to the People's Assembly of Gagauzia? Did the State party raise the 10 per cent target in the resolution 1325 on the national action plan? Had the number of women in the army declined? What temporary special measures with targets were planned for Roma and Gagauz women, women with disabilities and rural women?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Republic of Moldova had taken measures to ensure the continued access of refugee children, including girls to education, and their reintegration into education. A specific decision had been passed which approved children from Ukraine to be integrated into education institutions. Certain classes were also provided in the Ukrainian language. Refugee children had benefitted from ten per cent of admission quotas between grades one to 10 in school. A monitoring mechanism had been introduced to strengthen data reliability across all these measures. Since September 2025, measures had been introduced to support refugee children in schools, including receiving free breakfasts and receiving a one-off allowance. The Republic of Moldova would continue to improve these mechanisms and ensure that all refugees in the State party were safe.
All ministries were required to include gender budgeting within their budgets. The system for salaries was structured on principles of non-discrimination and equal pay for equal work.
In 2025, the Republic of Moldova updated 34 Government decisions regulating social services and included refugees, undocumented peoples and foreigners in these decisions. The Government decision on shelters was updated, improving the minimum requirements and standards, in line with the Istanbul Convention. Minimum standards were also improved in maternal centres which hosted women and teenagers who were going through a difficult time. Refugees, foreigners and undocumented people could now access these shelters. The minimum standards for the Barnahaus centres for children who had witnessed crimes had also been updated.
The State had seen increased levels of women being elected to local counsellors, as a result of the measures implemented. A strong women and peace caucus had been created within Parliament, bringing together members of Parliament across political groups. Each month the caucus held different public hearings concerning the gender domain.
The State was on the second national action plan regarding resolution 13/25. Due to implementation, there had been an increase in women in the security sector. There were now around 15 per cent of women in decision-making positions, which was a significant increase. These included top positions within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State.
There were more than 50 per cent of women working within the Government of the Republic of Moldova. As Government salaries were lower, men were not encouraged to take up positions there. Men typically preferred working in the private sector to have a higher salary. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were departments with a higher ratio of men. The State was working on the implementation of the European Union directive which would ensure more equality in employment and education. Currently, there were clauses within 23 laws which stated that women could be suspended for maternity leave. The State was working to eliminate this clause and ensure that women could return to their jobs without any discrimination.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said gender stereotyping and increased support for traditional gender roles was observed in the Republic of Moldova, particularly among young people and men, and worrying trends also showed an increase in online violence and abuse against children. When would the State party adopt a comprehensive strategy for combatting gender stereotyping in society? What measures would the State party take to institutionalise and adequately resource gender-transformative programmes? What steps would the State party take to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence and gendered disinformation and misogynistic content online?
The Republic of Moldova was commended on its adherence to the Istanbul Convention and the system of monitoring by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which allowed further improvement of legislation and practice. The legislative reform carried out between 2023 and 2026, including a law criminalising femicide and the establishment of the National Agency for Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence as a coordinating body, were positive practices.
However, there were several problematic areas, including that article 78 of the Contravention Code had not been repealed. When did the State party intend to repeal it and reinforce effective protection by criminal law, ensuring that all cases of domestic violence were prosecuted as a criminal offence? The joint protection of women and children from violence remained inefficient. What measures for risk assessment and risk management had the State party taken in cases of domestic violence which involved child custody and child contact?
Another Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated the Republic of Moldova’s efforts to combat trafficking, including legislative measures and support for victims, but challenges remained. What measures had been adopted to guarantee periodic inspections of residential institutions and guarantee protection from trafficking, as well as instigate deinstitutionalisation? Roma women and girls living on the street were particularly exposed to trafficking. What had been the impact of measures designed to protect this group from trafficking? What measures had been implemented to identify cases of trafficking, both on and offline?
Criminalisation compelled sex workers to go underground, which increased the likelihood of trafficking. Would the State party consider adhering to the previous recommendations of the Committee and decriminalising sex work? Why was it so difficult for foreign victims to have access to residence and work permits? How did the State guarantee that timely access to remedies was provided to victims? What measures were planned to bolster funding and operational capacity and guarantee resources for the implementation of and follow-up to the national action plan on trafficking?
Responses from the Delegation
The delegation said in 2025, Parliament considered additional measures to protect women and girls from harassment, including in the digital environment. These included recognition of a digital dimension of violence, restriction on access to electronic communication networks, extending emergency restraining orders from 10 to 20 days, and extending protection orders from three to six months, among others.
The State had been promoting several family-friendly policies within the last few years. Paternity leave in the Republic of Moldova was now 15 days, paid at 100 per cent. Two additional options had been created for childcare leave, providing more financial flexibility for new parents. The number of men taking paternity leave had been increasing, with around 6,000 men taking parental leave. The law had been changed to allow women to work until up to 36 weeks pregnant; prior, they were not allowed to work past 30 weeks. This year, the State was investing 9.5 million euros to develop nearly 2,000 childcare cases, specifically for children up to the age of three.
In 2023, guidelines were implemented to monitor hate speech, particularly in online media and in politics. A television channel had been fined for discriminatory coverage of a female candidate. A platform had been developed to enable women to recognise and report digital abuse. Women could also access free psychological counselling and support services from this platform. The Republic of Moldova aimed to ensure that women were protected and informed, both online and offline.
The Parliament had increased penalties to punish acts of violence against women and girls. Efforts were continued to train justice sector actors to ensure the correct classification of facts and effective investigations.
The Parliament had recently adopted a new law to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and improve the protection of victims. Criminal legislation also introduced aggravating circumstances for the use of technology in trafficking-related activities. The law provided greater attention for foreign victims of trafficking. To align national legislation with European Union legislation, a draft law was being processed, which included defining the definition of victims and establishing their right to be heard by someone of the same sex, among other elements.
Work was being carried out to strengthen the national referral mechanism to ensure better coordination across Government ministries. Specialised services were provided to women and children, as well as men who were victims of trafficking. Victim-centred training was provided to social workers and other professionals. Repatriation was provided to Moldovan citizens who were trafficked abroad. Foreign victims identified in the Republic of Moldova could access protection by social services. The Republic of Moldova was no longer a country of origin and was increasingly facing risks of trafficking and exploitation within its own territory. Private employment agencies who employed foreign workers were required to register with the National Employment Agency and were subject to regular inspections by the Labour Inspectorate.
The Republic of Moldova had agreements with other countries and was
working closely with the Labour Inspectorates in those countries. As a result, the Government had been able to intervene in cases where Moldovan citizens’ rights had been violated in foreign workplaces.
This year, a deinstitutionalisation strategy for persons with disabilities in placement shelters had been approved. The plan aimed to close the big placement centres and place persons with disabilities in smaller, more personalised housing. Services were being provided through the State’s hotline for persons with disabilities, which acted as a source of referral to social services and the police.
In cases involving prejudiced related offences, the police and courts were responsible for reporting this within the registration system. Between 2021 and 2023, new fields were introduced within the offence register to enable the reporting of prejudiced-motivated offences. Trainers had been trained on discrimination and a victim-centred approach to provide support to Roma, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and other minorities within the country.
Questions by Committee Experts
The Committee commended the State party for the significant progress made to increase the equal and meaningful participation of women in public and political life, manifested with the election to a second term of the State party’s first female president. However, the Committee had several concerns in this area. What concrete actions was the State party taking to remove barriers that undermined the equal and meaningful representation of Roma women, rural women, women and girls with disabilities, and other women and girls in disadvantaged groups in public and political life to encourage them to equally participate? Could the State party provide disaggregated data on the number of women participating in all fields of public and political life?
What concrete steps were being taken to provide adequate gender responsive financing to dismantle existing gender stereotypes, misogyny, patriarchy and abuse, which undermined women’s participation; provide effective redress and survivor-centred support services for female victims of all forms of abuse in decision-making; increase awareness among Roma women, rural women, older women and underrepresented women; provide inclusive and accessible election information and infrastructure for women and girls with disabilities; and to effectively monitor women’s equal representation and influence in decision making at all levels? The 40 per cent quota was higher than many other countries, but the Committee called upon the State party to further implement the 50:50 parity standard established by the Convention.
Another Committee Expert welcomed the adoption of the law on nationality in 2025, which enshrined equality between men and women on nationality issues. What tangible results had been achieved in addressing previous barriers to birth registration and the acquisition of nationality? What steps had the State party taken to establish a framework to ensure the systematic monitoring of cases of statelessness? What measures had the State party taken to ensure women and children from the Gagauzia region were not prevented from registering births? How did the State party ensure that Roma women and women from Gagauzia understood their rights in accessing birth registration?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the procedures and conditions for birth registration were regulated by law. Since 2024, births had been registered electronically and automatically, based on an electronic birth certificate. Amendments had been introduced to the civil status act, which stated that a child’s birth could now be registered by any competent authority. There was a continuous dialogue with Roma communities, and there was a specific mediator who was responsible for registering births in Roma communities and informing the people on how they could access birth registration.
There were educational quotas across all levels to guarantee Roma women and girls access to the educational system. The enrolment of Roma in education was increasing; around 2,000 Roma persons were now enrolled in education, with around half of them being girls. Enrolment had also grown across preschool education. A merit scholarship had been implemented for Roma students since 2023, awarded on the basis of academic merit and performance. Each year, 120 scholarships were distributed across all levels of education.
The delegation said social assistance centres were established in each village, along with mobile teams providing services and information for at-risk populations. Information was also provided through paralegals, as well as on Government websites. Government websites were also accessible for persons with disabilities. Staff were trained to provide services to persons with disabilities. Employment mobile teams ensured access to information on employment. In 2024, the network of shelters for victims of domestic violence was made up of nine shelters, accommodating around 178 places. The network had been expanded to 11 shelters, with the goal to add an additional three shelters, in total serving 290 places. This figure was above the Istanbul Convention standards. The standard placement period had been extended from three to six months for gender-based violence victims, with the option to extend up to 12 months.
Political parties were required to spend 25 per cent of their financial allocation on events involving women in politics and risked suspension of the allocation of resources if they did not comply. Population data allowed the State party to identify existing inequalities.
The Republic of Moldova had a mechanism to identify and prevent statelessness. The State was working on regulatory amendments to systematically identify the risk of statelessness. Children born in the Republic of Moldova to stateless parents acquired citizenship at birth.
Amendments were being undertaken to ensure the Ombudsman’s Office fully complied with international standards, including concerning immunity. Over the past few years, the budget for the Ombudsman’s Office had increased by 300 per cent. From 2021 to 2026, the budget for the Equality Council had increased by 125 per cent.
Questions by Committee Experts
An Expert said the Committee was pleased to see gender equality in the State’s education strategy. However, 90 per cent of young women tended to choose subjects in social sciences which were less well paid than jobs in the scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors. What strategies had been adopted to tackle this issue in the long term? The Committee was pleased to see strategies tackling school dropout, but noted that school dropout rates were still high within the Roma community. The Committee was also concerned that Roma pupils, students with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students were prone to being bullied. What had been done to reintegrate these groups back into school when they dropped out and to combat bullying? What was necessary to ensure that sexual and reproductive health education was provided comprehensively and was a standalone subject within the school system? How was it ensured that teachers were adequately trained on this subject?
The Expert also said that the Committee was concerned that the effectiveness of accountability measures aiming to stop harassment within the workplace remained uncertain. What steps did the State party aim to take to bridge the remaining gaps to ensure a safe and non-discriminatory workplace. It was positive that childcare for children under the age of three had been extended, and that the State party was transposing the European Union Directive to ensure that all independent workers would be granted the right to maternity leave. What measures did the State party intend to take to encourage men to take their paternity leave? What was the timeframe for transposing the European Union Directive? What measures was the State party intending to take to address the high gender wage gap in the country? What was being done to address the issues faced by elderly women? How was the retirement timeline for men and women being harmonised?
Another Expert said the Committee understood that the provision of abortion healthcare by telemedicine service was previously available in the State party, until it was effectively banned since 23 January 2025. Were public health experts or reproductive rights organizations consulted about this change? Could the State party please provide the rationale for removing the service, any measurable consequences of this removal, and whether the State party intended to re-enact this service?
Adolescent pregnancy rates in the Republic of Moldova ran three times the European average, and remained particularly high in rural areas. Was there an update on the 2030 education strategy goals and outcomes for reproductive and sexual health services and education, and did the strategy address intersecting and compounding inequality issues? Civil society stated that medical staff shortages resulted in increased waiting times, postponed treatments, and inadequately serviced mental health, sexual and domestic violence healthcare. How did the State party propose to address these practical implementation issues? What was the State party doing to ensure accessible, inclusive and needs-adapted healthcare services for women with disabilities?
The Committee was concerned that the percentage of women infected with HIV in 2022 was more than double that of men. Did the State party intend to expand HIV/AIDS prevention and education programmes to address the stigma impacting vulnerable women such as those in domestic violence situations, transgender women, drug-user women or sex workers? What were the actions taken by the State party to remove drug registries, and increase education regarding HIV and drug use stigmas? How would the State party address the unique needs of Roma women and girls to ensure that the literacy and institutionalised racism gaps were closed when Roma women accessed healthcare services?
Sex workers in the Republic of Moldova had limited access to the mainstream health system. How did the State intend to integrate sex workers into the health system to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including adequate physical and mental health worker training, substance-use services and post-rape care?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said students enrolled in scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects accounted for around 24 per cent of higher education enrolment. In the Technical Institution of Moldova, women now accounted for 33 per cent of enrolled students. There were also more than 22 per cent of women integrated within specialties in the Armed Forces. During the 2025-2026 school year, the school dropout remained low, at less than one per cent in the first semester. The Education Code established the obligation of education institutions to ensure a safe education environment. An anti-bullying programme was launched this year, which would cover 38 schools across the country.
The European Union Directive had been transposed and would pass into law, ensuring that all women would receive maternity benefits. There had been a trend in disparities between women and men for equal pay for equal work. A law had been drafted on the State’s position of the European Union Directive for equal pay for equal work, which was currently under consultation. Courses were being provided at the University of Moldova for elderly people to enable them to gain a job in a different occupation or improve their skills in their current occupation. The State wanted to provide vouchers for formal and non-formal training to the elderly population. More than 4,000 men in the Republic of Moldova had taken paternity leave, out of the around 13,000 births. A draft law had been designed which mandated that new parents would take at least two months of non-transferable leave.
The regulatory framework for telemedicine was being developed so it could be implemented under safe circumstances. Currently, it was about building the legislation and ensuring it was regulated to the highest standards. This law was currently being drafted, but the State planned to involve civil society organizations once the first draft was complete. Access to abortion services was being strengthened, and a new standardised clinical protocol was approved in 2026, which included access to post abortion contraception, among other benefits. Data showed a long period of decline in instances of abortion. For 2026 to 2030, the State aimed to increase access to safe abortion services, from 82.3 per cent to 90 per cent, including by covering this procedure under health insurance.
Mental health services were provided for community health centres, as well as psychological, social and legal support. Programmes had been established to support those with HIV, including sex workers with HIV. Programmes included testing, counselling and referrals to specialised health care services. Around 5.4 per cent of sex workers reported avoiding healthcare due to stigma, and the State was focused on reducing this figure to no more than three per cent. Medical personnel must make efforts to ensure that the wishes of women with disabilities were respected during consultations, and that they understood the situation.
This year, the State had increased its active market measures, with 60 per cent of all beneficiaries of social programmes needing to be women and nine per cent to be persons with disabilities. Work was being closely carried out with each beneficiary, and the State was monitoring their employment placement after graduating from these programmes. Professional training was being provided in around 55 occupations, as well as scholarships, to encourage women to undertake training programmes. Centres had been developed which allowed women to leave their children at the centres and take some vacation time. There were also social centres specifically for elderly people, enabling women who were caring for their elderly parents to return to work. The State was also working with the private sector to encourage the development of private sector services for the elderly and for persons with disabilities.
Questions by Committee Experts
An Expert asked how the State’s social assistance measures would target rural women? How did the Republic of Moldova plan to increase the number of Roma women among mediators? Women migrants and asylum seekers faced barriers to social services. What measures had been adopted to address the stigma against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women? Women with HIV who were drug users and sex workers also continued to face stigmatisation in the State party. What measures did the State plan to take to decriminalise drug use and sex work? How would economic alternatives be provided to women who wished to move on from the sex trade?
What measures had the State taken to provide comprehensive, gendered care for women in prison? What efforts had been made to find an alternative to imprisonment for women with young children? Did the State have data on the female prison population? What measures would be adopted to ensure the safety of female human rights defenders, who continued to receive threats to their safety both online and offline? Did the Roma community mediators receive training with a gender perspective?
Another Expert said that although the law set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18, in practice, individuals aged 16 and older were permitted to marry “under exceptional circumstances”. When did the State party plan to abolish the exception allowing marriage from the age of 16? How would the State party ensure that women from vulnerable groups could effectively exercise their legal capacity, access financial services, manage their property and make independent decisions? What measures would be taken to ensure that women in unregistered cohabiting relationships, particularly Roma women, received legal protection in areas such as property distribution and inheritance, social protection and child-rearing?
Would the Republic of Moldova abolish the requirement for mandatory mediation in divorce proceedings involving domestic violence? Would modern contraceptive methods and safe abortion be included in the coverage of the National Health Insurance Company to expand access to free services? Would articles 159 and 160 of the Penal Code be amended to explicitly criminalise abortions and sterilizations performed without free, prior and informed consent?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said 27 per cent of female businesses which had received support through State programmes were based in rural areas. Women farmers benefitted from 10 per cent higher subsidies. Women’s access to finance and equipment was being improved through programmes, allowing rural women to obtain loans. Women in prisons were housed in a dedicated institution, totally separate from male facilities, with a separate unit for women with young children. Activities were specifically aimed at supporting their reintegration back into society. Women could participate in paid activities, and more than 40 women were currently employed. For the first time, food standards had been established for prisoners with health problems, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
The State had adopted a law which eliminated the civil status criteria, and now women who were not working, irrespective of their civil status, could receive a maternity benefit based on their partner or spouse’s income. A child allowance had been established for all parents, for each child up to the age of two, regardless of whether the parents were insured. As of January 2026, there were 52 community mediators, all representatives of the Roma community. The State was actively involving the mediators in gender equality training.
To prevent abuse regarding the age of marriage, marriage for those between 16 and 18 was only allowed under strict grounds and required parental consent. These circumstances included if the children wanted to get married, or if the girl was pregnant. In 2025, the Republic of Moldova adopted a reform which aimed to strengthen the rights of a surviving spouse to the family property, following the death of a partner.
Early marriage could have serious consequences for the health, rights and education of girls, including those belonging to Roma communities. However, the State party did not currently have data regarding early marriage rates for Roma girls, and recognised the need to improve data collection in this area. Measures had been targeted at Roma girls on education and healthcare, but there had been no targeted measures on early marriage. A new plan for 2027- 2030, developed in consultation with the Roma population, aimed to address this issue.
Contraceptives and medical abortion services were covered by the National Medical Insurance Company. From 2024 to 2025, the Ministry of Health issued more than 2,000 primary health institutions with standardised medical equipment. These measures contributed to reducing physical barriers to health services.
Closing Statements
FELICIA BECHTOLDT, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Protection of Family of the Republic of Moldova and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue which had highlighted the progress achieved and areas where further efforts were needed. The State would aim to improve several areas, including data collection, access to healthcare services, and protecting the rights of women and girls facing multiple forms of discrimination, among others. The main challenge was not just adopting legislation, but ensuring consistent and adequate resources.
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked the Republic of Moldova for all its efforts during the dialogue.
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CEDAW26.017E