For two days, Moldova hosted an important event that brought together strong and dedicated women - initiators of proposals aimed at accelerating women’s involvement in leadership roles in the fields of security, politics, and business.
The Conference “Women4Security – From Opportunities to Real Impact: Promoting the Role of Women in Peace and Security Processes for the Next 25 Years” gathered over 150 participants, including members of parliament and ministers from Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, ambassadors, experts, and professionals, who emphasized the vital importance of women’s participation in ensuring security and good governance.
The event served as a platform for exchanging experiences and best practices, and participants left with at least one valuable lesson drawn from the realities and successes of the participating countries.
The tone of the event was given by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, who praised the national programs that include measures to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes:
“It is good that you are managing to place women in equal positions. You have turned gender equality plans into reality in the economic sector, and now you are doing the same in security and defense. This is how society’s defense and resilience are strengthened”.
The Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Doina Gherman, highlighted the transformative role of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325:
“Resolution 1325 changed the paradigm of global security. It brought women from silence and shadow into the center of decision-making - to the tables of decisions and negotiations. Not only as beneficiaries of peace but also as architects of security”.
Romanian Senator Nicoleta Pauliuc, chair of the Committee for Defence, Public Order and National Security of the Romanian Senate, emphasized the shared responsibility in promoting peace:
“Peace has no gender - it is a collective responsibility of humanity. And yes, peace needs women, because peace can only be sustained when women are part of the decision-making process”.
Iryna Nikorak, Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and founder of Arm Women Now, added:
“Women’s voices in peace and security are essential. When women participate equally, societies become fairer, stronger, and more sustainable”.
In her closing remarks, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Daniella Misail-Nichitin, stated:
“Security has a human face, and women play an essential role in building it, protecting it, and strengthening it. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which inspired this event, reminds us that lasting peace and security cannot be achieved without the full and equal participation of women”.
The conference marked a double anniversary: 25 years since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and 30 years since the Beijing Declaration. The event highlighted how women’s engagement transforms communities, strengthens social and institutional resilience, and contributes to building a lasting climate of peace and security.