Don’t Blame the Clothes
The “Don’t Blame the Clothes” exhibition, a significant event aimed at combating sexual violence and challenging societal stereotypes, was inaugurated at the Bălți Medical College. This initiative is a collaboration between the Public Association Homecare, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova), and the Women’s Law Centre. The exhibition showcased the recreated outfits of ten women and teenage girls from the Republic of Moldova who have been victims of sexual abuse or harassment, drawing an audience of approximately 100 college students. The primary goal of this exhibition is to raise public awareness about the persistent social stereotypes that perpetuate sexual violence, highlighting the harsh reality of sexual violence and the urgent need for GBV prevention and response services in Moldova. Tamara Adașan, the Director of Homecare, emphasized the significance of hosting such exhibitions in educational institutions, particularly medical colleges, as it educates future medical professionals on how to apply protocols in cases of sexual assault and understand the root causes of this type of violence.
Violeta Terguță, Program Analyst on GBV at UNFPA Moldova, highlighted the alarming prevalence of sexual violence in Moldova, noting that police recorded 222 cases of rape and 282 cases of violent sexual acts in the last year alone. She pointed out that stereotypes often lead to the overlooking of such forms of violence, with survivors facing traumatic injuries, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and a higher rate of suicide.
Nicoleta Cocoță, a Lawyer at the Women’s Law Centre, stressed that victims often refrain from seeking legal or medical help due to prevailing stereotypes, which extend beyond just clothing. The Centre encourages reporting every case of gender-based violence, whether it involves physical, psychological, sexual, spiritual, or any other type of violence, and is committed to supporting survivors with all available resources.
Andrei Sochircă, the Director of Bălți Medical College, pointed out that the exhibition and accompanying workshop served as an educational example for students, both as adolescents and future medical professionals, to understand gender violence and its sources. Such activities aim to provide future health care providers with greater confidence and informational support as the health care sector is one of the entry points for survivors of GBV.
The launch event also featured a workshop focused on discussing gender-based violence and the social impact of stereotypes, moderated by Nicoleta Cocoță. The “Don’t Blame the Clothes” exhibition, previously displayed at the Cahul Medical College, will remain open for a week at the Bălți Medical College, continuing its mission to educate and inspire change within the community.
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