35 inhabitants from Taraclia, Ceadar-Lunga and Vulcanesti districts met with the members of the Parliament and representatives of the Parliamentary Constituency and Information Offices (PCIOs) on Monday, June 13, in Taraclia city, within the 13th edition of the Regional Parliamentary Forum "Dialogue with citizens".

At this forum, were present members of the Parliament from the most of the parliamentary committees, namely: Demian Caraseni, member of the Agriculture and Food Industry committee; Eduard Smirnov, member of the human rights and interethnic relations committee; Elena Hrenova, from the social protection, health and family committee; MPs Corneliu Dudnic and Chiril Lucinschi, from the economy, budget and finance committee; Anatolie Gorila, representing the committee for national security, defense and public order; Elena Bodnarenco - public administration, regional development, environment and climate change committee. At the same time, the forum was attended by Ala Popescu, secretary general of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Fiodor Mincu, head of the PCIO from Comrat, and head of the Taraclia district, Chiril Tatarli.

Narine Sahakyan, Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme in Moldova, was pleased that this platform of dialogue brings together women and men from various walks of life from 3 districts together with the members of the Moldovan Parliament. “I would like to express my appreciation to people from Vulcanesti, Taraclia and Ciadar-Lunga who are participating in today’s dialogue for bringing to the attention of the MPs the concrete issues they face, as well as to the MPs present for their participation. The event could not have been possible without the strong partnership with the Women’s Platform in the Parliament of Moldova and the Parliamentary Secretariat and, also, special thanks goes to Government of Sweden for supporting this event,” said Narine Sahakyan.

The forum is organized to enhance communication between citizens - representatives of local authorities and civil society - and members of the Parliament. And Chiril Tatarli, head of the Taraclia district, expressed his hope that the forum will improve relations between MPs and citizens from Taraclia district. "We are glad that you have not forgotten us and we rely on the fact that, thanks to you, will be found solutions to the issues discussed today, during the forum,” concluded Tatarli.

The main topics discussed during the forum were about the initiatives to develop economy and education, social protection for different categories of citizens, the involvement of women in politics, the situation of national minorities in Moldova. Moreover, another widely debated topic during the forum was about the Taraclia status.

MP Elena Bodnarenco informed the people that the project on the status of Taraclia district was voted in first reading. “Later, it was sent to the Venice Commission, which has an advisory role in this regard and, hopefully, we will receive its opinion on it as soon as possible," said the MP.

During the forum was given a special attention to the new adopted law - Law No.71 – which provides the introduction of a 40 percent gender quota on party lists and the introduction of 14 days paternity leave, paid from the state Social Fund.  “For more women in politics and decision-making processes, in addition to the law which was adopted, it is necessary that household chores to be divided between husband and wife. Usually, women have more responsibilities in the family, so it is more difficult for them to engage in public life. That’s why I deeply believe that we should change our mindset about this and, therefore, women will be able to benefit from the same rights as men do and will participate more in social and political life of the state," stated Chiril Lucinschi.

About the minority representation in local government, MP Corneliu Dudnic noted the importance of knowing the state language, irrespective of national minority. In the same time, Eduard Smirnov reiterated the need to be supported by the government Romanian language studies for national minorities. "It would be good to be offered free courses to study the Romanian language and to be developed special programs that would assist representatives of national minorities to learn the language better,” pointed Smirnov.

In conclusion, member of the Parliament Corneliu Dudnic encouraged citizens to be more active and to seek solutions from the MPs. "It is our duty to respond to any proposal or request coming from the people. I urge you to come up with ideas so that together to change things for the better. There must be a permanent partnership between citizens and those whom they have elected”, said Corneliu Dudnic.

And although citizens welcomed the organization of the forum, they requested that such meeting to take place on a permanent basis. Moreover, they came up with the idea to be opened a Parliamentary Constituency and Information Office in Taraclia. Ala Popescu, secretary general of the Parliament, said that the proposal would be discussed. “For the last two years, the Parliament is presented in the territory by its information offices. At the moment, we conduct a study on the efficiency of the information offices, and, later, probably in October, will determine the expansion of the project in other districts, including in Taraclia”, said Ala Popescu.

Regional parliamentary forum is organized with the support of UN "Women in Politics" Programme, in partnership with the Common Platform of Dialogue of Women MPs and Parliament's Secretariat. At the end of each forum is formulated a summary of the discussions that will be submitted for review to the MPs from the Parliament.  So far, similar regional parliamentary forums were held in Orhei, Leova, Edinet, Ungheni, Comrat Ialoveni, Calarasi, Soroca, Glodeni, Rezina, Cahul, Causeni. The next forum will be held in Cimislia.

UN "Women in Politics" Programme is implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with East-Europe Foundation and the Centre "Partnership for Development", financed by the Government of Sweden.