UnheardVoicesEqualityListened

The Public Association Homecare, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) and the Women’s Law Centre, inaugurated the exhibition “Don’t Blame the Clothes” at the I.P. Cahul College of Medicine. The exhibition, which gathered about 150 college students, displays the reconstructed clothing of nine women and teenage girls from the Republic of Moldova, victims of abuse or sexual harassment.

The purpose of the exhibition is to bring to public attention and combat the social stereotypes that perpetuate the phenomenon of sexual violence. Through this initiative, it aims to highlight the painful reality of sexual violence and the need to develop services to ensure gender equality in the Republic of Moldova.

The director of Homecare, Tamara Adașan, stated at the inauguration of the exhibition that “through these exhibits, the association she represents wants to bring to the forefront the painful reality of sexual violence, but also to underline the need for the development of services to ensure gender equality in the Republic of Moldova. Gender-based violence is a global pandemic, which knows no borders and affects not only the direct victims but also the social and economic development of our societies.”

Violeta Terguță, Gender-based Violence Program Analyst at UNFPA Moldova, said, “In the Republic of Moldova, sexual violence is the third most common form of violence among young girls and leaves severe scars on their lives. In 2022, the police recorded 508 crimes against sexual life, of which 222 cases were rapes and 282 cases were violent actions of a sexual nature. This last form of violence is often overlooked, especially because of stereotypes. Girls and women who have gone through such violence face issues of traumatic injuries, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and show an increased rate of suicide.”

Nicoleta Cocoță, a lawyer at the Women’s Law Centre, believes that “the true number of sexual abuses against women is much higher than the official figures. Most often, victims choose not to go to law enforcement or to a doctor, precisely because of the stereotypes they face. And when I say stereotypes, I’m not just referring to clothes. We encourage every case of gender-based violence to be reported, whether it involves physical, psychological, sexual, spiritual violence, or any other kind. For this, the Women’s Law Centre strives, with all its resources, to be able to help those who are going through such situations.”

The director of the Cahul College of Medicine, Aliona Mustață, noted that “the exhibition is ‘a well-calibrated project with a well-chosen target,’ considering that 80% of the students are girls.”

The launch event also included a workshop dedicated to discussions on gender-based violence and the social impact of stereotypes on the victims of sexual violence, moderated by Nicoleta Cocoță.

The “Don’t Blame the Clothes” exhibition will be open for a week at the Cahul College of Medicine, and will subsequently be displayed at the Bălți College of Medicine.

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