A new national study released by UN Women Moldova reveals that 8 out of 10 female candidates in the 2025 parliamentary elections were subjected to various forms of violence, particularly psychological abuse and online harassment, during the campaign.

The report, titled “The Price of Participation: Women Candidates’ Experience in the 2025 Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Moldova”, highlights that Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) is a systemic issue undermining democracy in Moldova.

Key Findings

• VAWP remains a major barrier to women’s full participation in decision-making, aiming to silence and weaken their political power.
• Psychological and digital violence—including intimidation, harassment, and threats—were the most prevalent forms.
• The online environment was identified as the most dangerous space, with sexist and stereotypical comments frequently used to discredit candidates.
• Only 36% of candidates reported incidents through official or informal channels, and just 15% spoke publicly about their experiences.
• The lack of effective reporting and sanctioning mechanisms keeps the true scale of the problem hidden, limiting institutional responses.

Voices from the Report

• Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative:
  “This report exposes a grave reality: violence against women in politics has become a serious threat to democracy and human rights. Without clear measures of prevention and sanction, the consequences may be profound and impossible to ignore.”
• Maria Tropp, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden:
  “Equal participation of women and men in politics is essential for genuine democracy. Violence against women in politics targets them not for their opinions, but simply because they are women. Fear of violence prevents women from running for office, undermining the quality of institutions and decision-making processes.”

Recommendations

• Political parties: adopt clear mechanisms for prevention, reporting, and sanctioning to foster inclusive and equitable political spaces.
• State institutions: establish functional and accessible official reporting channels to ensure survivors’ safety and hold perpetrators accountable.

Methodology

The study is based on data collected between October–November 2025, including:

• A survey of 104 female candidates
• 15 in-depth interviews with candidates
• 10 interviews with representatives of state institutions and civil society
• A focus group with 10 electoral officials

The research follows a global UN Women methodology, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) under a strategic partnership.