Moldova, a former member of the Soviet Republic, gained its independence in 1991 and three years later adopted the country’s current constitution. Under Article 1 of their formal body of law, it states that “governed by the rule of law, the Republic of Moldova is a democratic State in which the dignity of people, their rights and freedoms, the free development of human personality, justice and political pluralism represent supreme values that shall be guaranteed.” The country ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1994, and established a law ensuring equal opportunities for women and men in 2006. A decade later, parliament signed a quota law, making it mandatory for women to make up no less than 40 percent of candidates on electoral lists at the parliamentary and local levels. Zinaida Greceanîi was elected Moldova’s first female Prime Minister in 2008, and Maia Sandu was elected the country’s first female president in 2020. Though great progress has been made over the past 30 years, Moldova’s deeply entrenched patriarchal system continues to allow discrimination to persist across all sectors of society. According to a 2020 UN report, women earn 14.4 percent less than men, and 63 percent of women have experienced domestic violence at some point in their lives. These numbers are significantly higher among ethnic minority groups and women with disabilities. Fortunately, a number of female-led NGOs like MARA Woman and GirlsGotIT are aiming to empower women through education to further their career opportunities. In addition, NGOs like the Ariadna Maternity Center and Promo-Lex, are providing safe spaces and psychological support while advocating for victims of domestic violence.
In Moldova, female sports participation is modest due to gender stereotypes, limited access to safe sporting facilities, and minimal investment. Fortunately, The Football Association of Moldova (FMF) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are currently implementing new grassroots strategies to help promote and develop women’s soccer. FMF has launched the Football in Schools project which has built soccer into the physical education curriculum, ensuring that kids now play soccer for at least two hours per week. UEFA’s HatTrick Programme has helped establish approximately 500 soccer pitches across the country making it easier for women and girls to play the game. Handball and basketball are two other sports gaining in popularity and recognition. The women’s national handball team won the Euro Handball Federation Championship in 2018, and the women’s basketball team won bronze in the 2006 and 2016 FIBA Women’s European Championship for Small Countries.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Moldova:
Natalia Zbirnea
How does Moldova compare to other countries?
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Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
26%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
36%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
Zinaida Greceanîi, 2008-2009
Natalia Gherman, 2015
Maia Sandu, 2020-2021
Natalia Gavrilița, 2021- Present
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Monica Babuc, 2013-2019
Liliana Nicolăescu-Onofrei, 2019-2019
Title IX Timeline
1978
Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1991
Moldova gained independence on August 27 with the dissolution of the USSR and became the Republic of Moldova.
1994
Elena Gorohova, a biathlon athlete, became the first woman to represent Moldova in the Olympics. Moldova ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
2008
Larisa Marinenkova, a powerlifter, became the first woman to represent Moldova in the Paralympics and Zinaida Greceanîi became the first female Prime Minister of Moldova.
2018
Moldova signed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, affirming that peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of violent conflict, the delivery of relief and recovery efforts and in the forging of lasting peace.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
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0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
7
-
25
-
20
-
11
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
1
-
3
-
2
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1994
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
1994
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
The first woman could be you!
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
2008
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
2008
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
The first woman could be you!
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
2001
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Football Association of Moldova (FMF) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are implementing grassroots strategies to help promote and develop women’s soccer.
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
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FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
Unknown
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
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LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
