Women’s Day in Moldova

Moldova, like most countries, celebrates International Women’s day on 8th march and it is also a declared national holiday. Previously during the Soviet era there used to be parades, fireworks and the directors of businessesused to give either gifts or cash rewards to all women staff on that day. However this tradition today has faded; few businessmen choose to follow this tradition while many do not. In Moldova men and children honour their mothers, wives, girlfriends, and colleagues with flowers and small gifts on this day. According to Moldovan practice, Mother’s Day is also celebrated on the same day along with International Women’s day.

Women are yet to see complete sunshine here in Moldova. Due to various crimes that are committed right under the noses of Moldovan police, people’s lives are endangered. Crime in Moldova has been a pressing issue since the fall of the Soviet Union and in the recent times it has increased manifolds. Crime here is characterized by murders, drug trade and women trafficking. Moldovan women have been most vulnerable to trafficking. They are being sent as far as Western Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East.

Though Moldovan government has adopted and implemented criminal code in order to protect the victims and penalizethe criminals, this inhumane practice still haunts women. In Moldova numerous girls are being kidnapped and sold in foreign countries.In the span between 1991 and 2008, 400,000 women have been reportedly trafficked from Moldova.

Moldovan women face many barriers to better employment opportunities and fair wages. Moldovan women earn 25-35% less salary than men with same workload and educational qualification.Domestic violence, psychological and sexual assaults are still prevalent here. In most cases poverty,alcoholism, drugs drive mento beat up their women.

Government has taken a series of steps to improve gender equality, likeorganizing committees devoted to women and family issues. To provide women with equal job opportunities, a gender unit is now housed within the Ministry of Labour. The Government also adopted a National Plan in 2003 to promote gender equality.However crime is still at large here in Moldova and women’s status above all is gravely volatile.