In an international political landscape dominated by men, the Republic of Moldova will stand out in 2025 with a majority female government and a parliamentary representation of women well above the global average, according to the new map “Women in Politics”, which was produced by UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPN reports.
Data analyzed earlier this year shows that Moldova is among the few countries where women hold key positions in government, at a time when the share of women in leading ministries is falling globally.
According to the report, only 22.9% of senior positions in ministries are held by women worldwide, a slight decrease from the previous year. In contrast, following the recent government reshuffle, 54% of Moldova’s cabinet of ministers are women. In addition, they manage areas considered essential, such as justice, home affairs, finance, health, agriculture and the food industry, contrary to the international trend of appointing women to social or gender equality portfolios.
And in Parliament, Moldova exceeds the global average. After the 2021 elections, the share of women in the legislature in Chisinau is set at 40%, compared to the global average of 27.2%. This proportion has been maintained until the next parliamentary elections.
However, numerical representation does not remove the obstacles. Studies show that stereotypes persist. Nearly 39% of respondents to a 2023 poll said they would prefer a male president, while 29% would opt for a male MP. UN Women points out that during the 2024 presidential election, female candidates were the target of attacks, often using discriminatory language or gender bias.
The “Women in Politics” map was launched in New York at the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and provides an overview of global progress and setbacks in promoting gender equality in political structures. The year 2025 is symbolic in this respect, marking three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – landmark documents in the field of women’s rights.