”Nicolae Testemitanu” University - in solidarity with the international campaign "16 days of activism against gender-based violence"

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova joined the international initiative "16 days of activism against gender-based violence" and the national campaign "Do you see me?" Ask for help for me", organized by UN Women Moldova.

In this context, on December 2, the second-year students from the Faculty of Medicine no. 1 participated in a public lecture on the topic of gender-based and sexual violence. The lecture was held by lawyer Arina Turcan-Dontu, representative of the Women's Law Center (WLC), who emphasized the need to combat stereotypes that contribute to the extent of the violence phenomenon.

On the same day, the documentary exhibition with the title "Don't blame the clothes!" was opened, presenting the stories of 11 women and girls from the Republic of Moldova - victims of violence. The stories are accompanied by a reconstruction of the clothes that were worn by the victims at the time of the abuse, and aim to raise awareness of society on this subject.

The exhibition is organized by the WLC in partnership with our university and financially supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with Representation in Moldova.

At the opening of the exhibition, Angelina Zaporojan-Pirgari, executive director of the WLC, has mentioned that the action comes to combat the stereotype in society related to the fact that women - victims of sexual violence - are to blame for what happened to them. "Starting with 2018, this exhibition is presented in state institutions and universities. Regrettably, in April 2024, another case was added to it, the 11th in number, it is about Ana-Maria - an 18-year-old pregnant young woman from Orhei, who was kidnapped and raped by a former policeman, then brutally killed - a tragic case that shocked the whole society", declared the WLC representative, emphasizing the fact that, unfortunately, we live in a society where tolerance towards sexual violence is very high.

The recent data of the study "Men and gender equality in the Republic of Moldova" show that 33% of men and 21% of women believe that a woman who has been sexually harassed is personally to blame for the fact that she ended up in this situation. At the same time, 33% of men and 17% of women believe that, in cases of rape, the woman herself wanted it to happen, respectively 36% of men and 32% of women believe that if a woman does not resist rape, it cannot be considered rape.

In this context, Angelina Zaporojan-Pirgari concluded that the role of the health system was essential in identifying and reporting cases of violence and giving women access to quality services and the assistance they need, in a way centered on the victim, without blaming them.

According to first vice-rector Olga Cernetchi, vice-rector for didactic activity and academic management, Nicolae Testemitanu University has not only the role of preventing violence, but also of promoting qualified medical assistance for victims. "With the support of several departments, the standardized clinical protocol "Clinical management of rape cases" was developed, based on which training workshops were organized for obstetricians, forensic and family doctors, resident doctors and students", the vice-rector said. She noted that the duty of each medical professional is not only to prevent violence and guide the victim on what actions to take, but also to provide qualified medical assistance. "Statistical data reveal that the victims are blamed by society and have psychological frustration that they were not in the right place and at the right time. The clothes are not the main cause of rape, the causes are in the head of the rapist", stressed Professor Olga Cernetchi.

For his part, Vitalie Frecauteanu, project coordinator at UNDP Moldova, has mentioned that, from 2005 until now, the legislation in the field has improved significantly and many services have been established; although great efforts are being made to change the situation, the violence phenomenon remains significant and worrying for the Republic of Moldova. "Not only the legal framework and the presence of services are important, but everyone's attitude matters. We must get involved in demolishing myths and educating the generations, thus we will contribute even more to the reduction of this terrible phenomenon, not only for the person and family, but also for society as a whole", added the UNDP representative. 

According to Associate Professor Andrei Padure, head of the Department of Forensic Medicine of Nicolae Testemitanu University, "doctors must know the causes and consequences of this phenomenon for abused persons and their descendants, but also for society, the recognition and documentation of victims' injuries, reporting and referring them to specialized services and to the authorities". 

For this reason, starting with the 2019-2020 academic year, a new optional course was introduced at Nicolae Testemitanu University - "Family and gender-based violence", intended for students and clinicians. The course was developed by the members of the Department of Forensic Medicine and aims to build awareness among students - future doctors - about the role they have in preventing and combating this phenomenon and to provide a response in line with the expectations of the victims and focused on their needs.

Another exhibition, launched on the same day, represents one of the 16 mannequins of the "Do you see me? Ask for help for me!" campaign, through which the organizers aim to raise public awareness and stimulate concrete actions. Artist Victoria Peev's realistic silhouettes of 16 women affected by violence and their stories have become a voice for women who suffer in silence, helping to raise awareness and mobilize the community for change. 

Those who wish can visit the exhibitions until December 6, 2024, in the hall of the central teaching building of Nicolae Testemitanu University (165 Stefan cel Mare si Sfant bd). 

The Women's Law Center provides psychological and legal assistance, rights information, court representation, and social and economic assistance to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. Annually, in Moldova, more than 20 women lose their lives due to violence.