Today we say firmly: violence against women has no excuse - neither in real life nor online. This was our shared message during the launch of the national “16 days of activism against gender-based violence” campaign, under the slogan “Moldova without violence” and the clear call to action – #NOEXCUSE for digital violence.
Today’s demonstration was not just a symbolic gesture, but a moment when Moldovan citizens and institutions joined their voices to declare that women and girls deserve safety wherever they are.
The team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, led by Minister Daniella Misail-Nichitin, was present to underscore that violence against women will not be tolerated, under any form and in any space, including the digital one.
In her address, the Minister highlighted the importance of protection in the digital environment and of the support provided to victims by the relevant institutions, as well as by the community, through solidarity and careful response to those asking for help.
“The recently passed legislative amendments explicitly recognize digital violence as a serious form of abuse. The distribution of intimate images without consent, threatening messages, humiliating materials, harassment, including online, are punishable under administrative and criminal law. The expansion of protection measures means that victims can seek real assistance, including by obliging the perpetrator to delete abusive content and cease any access to it. Let us not ignore the women who ask for help. Only together can we build a society in which every woman feels protected, respected, and free - in the street, at home, and in the digital space”.
The event, organized by the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV), brought together representatives of Moldovan institutions and international partners - the Parliament, Government, UN organizations, Council of Europe, the World Bank Group, as well as civil society - in a joint effort to support the campaign initiated by ANPCV under the auspices of Moldova’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Today we did more than walk in a march. We walked together in one direction: toward a Moldova free from violence.
#MoldovaWithoutViolence