40 residents from Causeni, Stefan Voda, Tiraspol, Tighina and Grigoriopol districts met with members of the Parliament and representatives of the Parliamentary Constituency and Information Offices (PCIOs) within the 12th edition of the Regional Parliamentary Forum "Dialogue with citizens".

The forum was attended by the MPs Galina Balmoş, member of the parliamentary committee for human rights and interethnic relations; Elena Hrenova member of the committee for social protection, health and family; Lilian Carp, member of the culture, education, research, youth, sports and media committee; and Ștefan Mocănaş, head of the Department of information in the territory, within the Moldovan Parliament Secretariat, and Tudor Mincu, head of the PCIO from Comrat.

The forum is organized to enhance communication between citizens - representatives of local authorities, civil society organizations - and MPs, but also to be heard people's concerns by the lawmakers of the country. Moreover, citizens came to the forum with concrete proposals to improve legislation. In turn, members of the Parliament were interested to answer to all the questions and recommendations of citizens, regardless of the subject.

Specifically, the people present at the forum discussed openly with members of the Parliament about the problems faced by Local Public Authorities in the region, measures to support small and medium enterprises, regional development initiatives, revision of the legal framework on entrepreneurial patent, review the mechanism to finance public services, but also about the insufficient resources for granting salaries in healthcare sector. The MPs, in turn, ensured that the citizens` proposals and the solutions identified during the discussions will be considered by them when will initiate legislative projects.

The MP Galina Balmoş reiterated the importance of financing social services for children at risk. Additionally, she informed the public that, two months ago, the Parliament elected a new ombudsman for children's rights. "This institution is very necessary to ensure a link between the children, law enforcement bodies and state, but also to promote children's rights in our society," said Galina Balmoş.

On the situation of children referred also MP Lilian Carp, who was talking about the need to create better conditions in education, as currently, according to him, there are about 50 percent fewer children than during the 90s. "That's why optimizing educational institutions is the best solution for now," said Lilian Carp. The MP stressed also about the importance of women in politics and decision-making processes. "In developed countries, where women get involved there are more progressive reforms", pointed out Lilian Carp, encouraging women present at the forum to be more involved in political life, both at the local and central level.

Discussion also covered the topic of the pensions` indexation and the MP Elena Hrenova noted about the importance of their indexation twice a year - in April and October. "The pension increase should not be just by 10 percent, but by 20 percent, so this increase could cover the financial needs of pensioners", said Elena Hrenova. She also referred to new Law no. 71, which was recently voted by the Parliament, informing citizens about how this law is to ensure gender equality in politics and in decision-making processes.

Regional 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 parliamentary forums were held in Orhei, Leova, Edinet, Ungheni, Comrat, Ialoveni, Calărași, Soroca, Glodeni, Rezina and Cahul. The next forum will be organized in Taraclia city.   

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.