Throughout Europe, women are under-represented in national parliaments. The European average stands at just 27 percent. In Moldova’s Parliament, men occupy 80 out of 101 seats. The good news is that this is the greatest representation of female MPs in the country since 1994.

The outcome of the November 2014 parliamentary elections falls below the 30 percent target pledged within Moldova’s National Millennium Development Goals. Even so, these newly elected women MPs are determined to change the face of Moldovan politics.

Their efforts are already well underway. In March 2015, after a break for many years, women MPs decided to put aside their political differences and created a joint platform to address the key issues Moldova is facing. These include, but are not limited to, skyrocketing unemployment and youth migration rates.

"In my opinion, being a Member of Parliament means, first of all, more responsibility, and in my case, responsibility towards the young men and women of Moldova,” says MP Mihaela Spataru.

Spataru’s objective is to create more jobs and an education system that responds to, and anticipates, the needs of the local and global economy. "It is important to offer more secure and better paid jobs to our young people, and invest more in vocational education.”

Youth are also the main concern for Marina Radvan who notes, "As the youngest female politician, I want first to focus my work on solving the difficulties faced by young people. We must do whatever it takes to motivate young men and women to study and work here.”

A better life for men and women in Moldova is what Valentina Buliga is striving to achieve. A Member of Parliament from 2005-2009, Buliga is returning to the same position after serving as the Minister of Social Protection and Family for the last nearly five years.