UNFPA partners with Japan in promoting health, safety and dignity of women and girls in Moldova 

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined forces with the Government of Japan in safeguarding the health, dignity and rights of women and girls in the Republic of Moldova in the context of humanitarian crisis. The new partnership will enable UNFPA to continue providing the lifesaving health and protection services to ensure that women, youth and older persons stay healthy and safe in the face of crisis.

Women and girls make up over two-thirds of refugees in Moldova, putting them at a higher risk of gender-based violence and in greater need of reproductive health care.  

Within the Japan-supported project of 1,050,000 USD, UNFPA will provide community-based gender-based violence prevention and response services, including through the Safe Spaces for Women, Youth, and Older Persons. To date, UNFPA and partners established 28 Safe Spaces, including the mobile teams that offer a secure and supportive environment for women and girls, providing emotional support and referrals for essential psychosocial and sexual and reproductive health care.  This support will benefit additional 20,000 individuals, helping them to rebuild their lives.

In addition, UNFPA will build and maintain the capacity of the service providers to offer tailored and compassionate care to survivors, with a focus on vulnerable populations like persons with disabilities and the Roma.

Japan’s contribution will also ensure that survivors of sexual violence receive the essential and holistic support they need. UNFPA will equip the medical emergency units for survivors to receive quality post-rape care in safe and confidential conditions. Medical professionals will be trained to ensure that the care they provide is sensitive to survivors' needs and is in line with WHO standards.

“UNFPA and partners extend our gratitude to the People of Japan for the vital support, which will enable more women, youth and older persons, both Ukrainian and Moldovan, to get the life-saving support and services. This partnership has a profound impact, promoting their health, safety, and dignity, and empowering them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives in times of crisis,” said Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova. 

“It’s a tragedy that so many Ukrainians had had to flee from their country for safety and experience all kinds of difficulties since the Russia’s invasion to Ukraine. At this difficult time, we are deeply touched by how warmly and openly Moldovan families received and took care of the Ukrainian refugees. I hope that this project from Japan through UNFPA will save the most vulnerable people – women and children – from falling under more danger in a foreign country,” said H.E. Mr. Yamada Yoichiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Moldova.