Chisinau, March 5 – The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Moldova and the "Felicia" Foundation will work together as part of a private-public partnership agreement. The organizations committed to educating women, young people, and parents on how to protect their sexual and reproductive health, and combat stereotypes surrounding these issues. The "Felicia" Foundation and UNFPA will organize in 2020 several public discussions with women, parents, and young people from Chisinau and rural areas, about adolescent development and proper communication during puberty, menstrual hygiene, the importance of cytological test for cervical cancer prevention, contraception choices, and other similar issues.

The sessions will involve top medical specialists from Moldova, who will address the misconceptions and provide quality information to the public. The lectures will be open for all interested persons to attend, who will be required to register in advance.

"Evidence shows that in many families in Moldova, these topics remain taboo. It requires the involvement of many partners to break the silence and help women and young parents to be adequately informed. We commend the "Felicia" Foundation for supporting this initiative and call on other private sector representatives to join these efforts," said Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Moldova Resident Representative, during the signing ceremony of the agreement.

Lucia Berdos, director of the "Felicia" Foundation, a mother of three, noted that she supports this cause because reproductive health and rights are essential for women's lives.

 'I remember, at the beginning of my family life, I imagined that after nine months, the child should appear. Why? Because we weren't really talking about the family planning right, about the right of each couple to decide when and how many children they want to have. I believe that we can identify solutions and combat stereotypes only by communicating and discussing openly these issues'. 

The partnership between UNFPA and the "Felicia" Foundation is a continuation of the UNFPA regional Let's Talk campaign, which aims to combat stigma and taboos around women's health.

In Moldova, the campaign launched in 2019 involved social media influencers, opinion leaders, and private sector representatives who committed to breaking the silence and addressing these issues publicly. The "Felicia" Foundation project is one of the first Let's Talk commitments put into practice.

In the long term, these initiatives will help change social norms in the Republic of Moldova, reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancies, and involve equally women and men in decisions about family planning.