Denim Day – advocacy campaign conducted in Cahul and Ungheni with EU support

In April, IC ‘La Strada’ and UN Women Moldova, under EVA project ‘Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni districts’, conducted the advocacy campaign Denim Day in the Republic of Moldova.

The Republic of Moldova did not develop a coordinated community response to cases of sexual violence and for a better testing of the availability of professionals and decision makers across certain districts of the country, various specialists, professionals, and local public authorities (LPAs) representatives from Cahul and Ungheni municipalities, explained in a video spot how it would be to collaborate in a team and argue about the trauma of the person

Dionisie Ternovschi, Deputy Mayor of Ungheni municipality, says that the community centres for victims of rape are needed, because victims should be provided services to help with their trauma: “Women or people who faced violence should know that there is a place where they can be heard. A place where they can come and be totally safe. A place where they can feel that the information, they will provide is confidential.”

On the other hand, given the sensitive nature of this topic, the erroneous and stereotypical attitudes against victims of sexual abuse, “…many victims do not know that they have the right to help,” says Tatiana Romaniuc, Deputy Mayor of Cahul municipality. “That is why, indeed, we need an institution with clear mandate and qualified professionals who would address this issue in a serious manner,” concluded the Deputy Mayor of Cahul.

The collaboration between IC ‘La Strada’ and UN Women Moldova under EVA project ‘Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni districts’, funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women Moldova, in partnership with UNICEF Moldova, involved the organisation of a series of trainings for professionals who interact with people affected by sexual violence. Thus, many doctors, psychologists and managers from health centres and youth-friendly centres across Ungheni and Cahul districts attended the seminars aimed to improve the response of health and social systems to sexual violence cases. Also, over 20 officers, prosecutors and representatives of police inspectorate management were guided and informed about principles of investigation centred on victims’ needs.