European Local Democracy Week in Moldova

19.10.2011

The Ambassador of Sweden in Moldova, H.E. Ingrid Tersman, participated at the National Conference “The role of local government in ensuring Human Rights and Gender Equality at the local level” that was organized in the framework of the European Local Democracy Week in Moldova during 10-16 October 2011. Mrs. Tersman talked about the Swedish government model, according to which “local matters should be dealt with at the local level”. She also referred to principles of participation, transparency, democratic accountability, gender equality in local governance and how these principles are put into practice in Sweden. “Most decisions which directly affect individuals are taken at local level, which is why transparency, participation and accountability are at least as crucial at local level as on national level. It is central to our values of democracy and rule-of-law that our citizens, who we serve, have a right to know what is decided and how it is decided”, said Mrs. Tersman.

Sweden supports the decentralization reform in Moldova through the Joint Integrated Development Programme /JILDP with 45 MSEK during 3 years 2010- 2012. The main counterpart is the Government of Moldova Chancellery of State, the Parliament and local authorities. This is the first pilot of human rights based approach (HRBA) in a very complex reform area, such as administrative and fiscal decentralization, aiming to empower local democracy and communities.

European Local Democracy Week in Moldova is supported within this programme, implemented by the Government of the Republic of Moldova with support of UNDP and UN Women.

JILDP works to improve the policy and legal frameworks, as well as to support administrative systems and procedures that are focused on the efficient transfer of competences to LPA, to support decentralization and promotion of LPA roles in the decision making through its four components: Policy Advisory and Advocacy, Local Self Governance and Participation, Community Empowerment, Transnistria and Security zone.

The biggest achievement in Moldova in this complex reform sector is that, for the first time in Moldova´s history since its independence, a Decentralization Strategy was developed and the decentralization reform will be implemented from the perspective of human rights based approach: transparency in decision making, participation, accountability and non-discrimination. The Decentralization Strategy is placing a great focus on gender equality, creation of equal opportunities for women and men, boys and girls, women participation in decision making. Also, for the first time, there was a broad public consultation and dialogue organized on the draft decentralization strategy with a special focus on Gender equality and human rights, with more than 2500 participants.