Hundreds of young people and adults from Gagauz autonomy were informed about the prevention of gender-based violence during an awareness campaign, conducted by UNDP, in collaboration with the Police Inspectorate of Comrat, between 26 November and 9December. The campaign took place in Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, Vulcanesti, but also in some villages, such as Chirsova or Congaz. The activity is part of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

In Congaz, the largest village in Gagauzia, so as in Comrat city, lessons were organized, during which students learned how to prevent gender-based violence, in an interactive and accessible way.  A police officer and a psychologist took toke over the respective classes. The students learned about various types of violence and why this phenomenon is a serious violation of human rights, but also how they should react when they witness a case of violence. School bullying was another topic addressed, so as how it affects children and young people, but also what protective mechanisms can be employed by those who become the target of this negative phenomenon. 

At the same time, people from Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga learned more about the work of police officers, and rescuers, so as how gender-based violence may be prevented. The residents of the two cities received information about the forms of violence and its risks and watched several videos on the subject. People found out where to report the cases of violence they witness, but also what measures are available to protect the victims of this phenomenon.

As part of the campaign, the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) committed to distribute an informative and methodological guide for planning actions to prevent gender-based violence in all town halls of the country. Five steps to prevent domestic violence. Participatory planning at the local level booklet describes, step by step, how mayors and deputy mayors can contribute to the implementation of the relevant legislation and what specific measures they can adopt to protect and support the victims. At the same time, the guide lists various methods of how to involve residents and specialists in the planning and implementation of measures aiming to prevent and combat domestic violence.

The information campaign was organized within the “Combating violence against women in the Republic of Moldova: Exploring and learning from local solutions” project, which was launched in 2018 and implemented by UNDP with the support of the Republic of Korea.

In the framework of the project, 11 villages and cities in Gagauz autonomy have established multidisciplinary teams for prevention of domestic violence. They are developing local action plans to reduce this phenomenon.

Also, within the project, a specialized center for the rehabilitation of victims of violence was opened in Gagauzia region in 2020. The service provides social, psychological and legal assistance, as well as support in job seeking.