Interview with Liliana Palihovici, President of the “Institutum Virtutes Civilis”, recently appointed as Special Representative on Gender of the OSCE Chairpersonship.
Embassy of Sweden: Ms. Palihovici, thank you for your willingness to answer a few questions. You have recently been appointed as Special Representative on Gender of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Congratulations! It is worth mentioning that this appointment coincides with Sweden taking over the OSCE Chairpersonship, and that Sweden is an active promoter of gender equality. What does this role mean, what are the strategic priorities set and the commitments during the term of office of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office?
Liliana Palihovici: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this issue and to repeatedly express my gratitude to Sweden for the mandate. It is an honor and a great responsibility for me. My mandate provides for an active involvement in promoting a good understanding by OSCE Member States of the international security implications that can be generated by gender inequalities and the under-representation of women in peace and security processes, on democracy and sustainable development. At the same time, I will work with participating States to provide recommendations on how to implement their international and OSCE commitments on gender equality and women, peace and security, including commitments stemming from the priorities identified in the Development Plan, OSCE Gender Action 2004 and the Agenda for Women, Peace and Security.
Another task for me is to work with the OSCE team to monitor developments in the OSCE region in the field of respect for women's rights and to ensure prompt and appropriate intervention by OSCE structures in the event of a shift in commitments in this area. So, from the above, it is understandable that the priorities of my mandate in 2021 are the priorities announced by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde in the field of gender equality and they are focused on strengthening gender equality, gender mainstreaming efforts and the implementation of the full agenda for women, peace and security in the OSCE region, as well as the efforts of women’s economic empowerment states, the latter being a dimension that requires even more attention due to the deteriorating economic situation of women: the effects of the pandemic.
Embassy of Sweden: Gender equality is a fundamental principle of the European Union. Although significant progress has been made at EU and Member State level, it is still considered that work needs to be done to eliminate discrimination between women and men. But how is Moldova doing in terms of gender equality? What has been done and should be done to support gender equality in Moldova?
Liliana Palihovici: In the last decade, the Republic of Moldova, with the support of development partners, and especially with the support of Sweden, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the European Union, has carried out several actions to combat gender stereotypes, prevent violence against women, women's economic empowerment and other actions focused on promoting gender equality in all areas of development. Some progress has also been made, including a slight improvement in women's participation in decision-making processes, a certain increase in the representation of women in law enforcement and the armed forces, an improvement in the legal framework for preventing discrimination and eliminating inequalities, including gender. However, these improvements cannot yet be considered or appreciated as some that have brought about the irreversible change in the behavior and attitude of the Moldovan society in the field of gender equality. National authorities must show political will to achieve national and international commitments on equality and equity between women and men, to ensure a representation of women at least 40 percent in public leadership positions, to ratify the Istanbul Convention and its implementation, in order to reduce the gender pay gap, in order to increase women's involvement in the processes of negotiating and discussing solutions for the country's reintegration.
In order to achieve the objectives on all the above dimensions, the Government and the Parliament must show more consistency in the implementation of gender-sensitive public policies, change their approaches in the elaboration of the state budget applying the principles of gender-sensitive budgeting, increase financial allocations to support female entrepreneurship, as well as to prevent gender-based violence and to develop services to assist victims of violence.
It is important to make sure that society understands that true democracy is built on respect for human rights and on conditions created to assert the potential of women and men for their personal benefit and that of society.
Embassy of Sweden: Based on your projects experience on promoting gender equality and implementing national and international commitments in this area, what do you think, how should civil society be involved in order to contribute to the change that is constantly being discussed?
Liliana Palihovici: You are right, over the years we have contributed to the promotion of gender equality legislation, the implementation of several projects that have encouraged women's participation in the development of their communities and the country, and their involvement in decision-making processes. At the same time, I know several civil society organizations that have been investing time and resources in this field for years, and it is hard for me today to imagine what the situation in the field would look like without their involvement. Several changes have taken place due to the involvement and advocacy of civil society. Among the best known examples are the introduction of gender quotas in the electoral code, establishing the right to paternity leave, developing the capacities of the national police and army to ensure gender equality in these institutions, promoting quality standards for services to women victims of violence, promoting legislation in order to improve the mechanism for protecting victims of violence.
Civil society organizations continuously monitor the process of implementing state policies in the field of gender equality, conduct research, analysis, and many of their recommendations are taken over in public policies in the field. The first services for women victims of human trafficking, for victims of domestic violence were created by civil society organizations, and they also advocate today to improve the network of child care services, which would allow both parents and especially women to assert themselves professionally and ensure sufficient income for a decent life.
Civil society organizations must continue to support democracy, monitor respect for human rights in Moldova and call for a change in approaches when public policy interventions do not provide solutions that address the specific needs of women and men, youth and people in people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups. This is what civil society organizations need to do, even if the relationship between civil society and government is not always one of collaboration.
Embassy of Sweden: The Swedish Embassy in Chisinau promotes the involvement of women and girls in various fields: technology, entrepreneurship, security and defense, by supporting capacity development and retraining programs, which aims to promote women's executive and leadership positions. In your opinion, which are the sectors where women need more encouragement and support?
Liliana Palihovici: Sweden provides the Republic of Moldova with extremely valuable support in promoting democracy, human rights, including the promotion of gender equality. We appreciate this and hope that the models developed with the support of this country will be multiplied at national level. If we are talking about areas where women's involvement should be encouraged, then my firm answer is - in all areas, this is the only way we can ensure the sustainable development of the country and the prosperity of every citizen, whether male or female.
Embassy of Sweden: How would you respond to people who consider gender equality to be a "women's issue"?
Liliana Palihovici: The answer is simple, women make up more than half of the world's population, ignoring their rights, we miss the enormous benefits that society can obtain in its development by capitalizing on women's skills, talents and abilities. I am sure, for example, that greater involvement of women in decision-making processes would bring more good governance, more women involved in conflict mediation processes would bring more lasting peace agreements, more women in the field of research and science would allow new discoveries and solutions to the major problems facing modern society, such as poverty, lack of treatment for diseases that today take the lives of millions of people. So I don't think society can still afford to ignore such great potential. Based on the above, ensuring gender equality is not a problem for women, it is an important issue of state policies, a duty of the state, society, and every citizen, if we want to live in a prosperous society and human dignity.
Embassy of Sweden: Ms. Palihovici, thank you and good luck in your further work!
