The project "Women Can Do It-III" is launched by the Gender Task Force for Equal Opportunities of the South Eastern Europe Stability Pact and financed by the Stability Pact. In the Republic of Moldova the Project was implemented by the NGO "Women's Political Caucus - 50/50".
   The implementation period of the project was May-December 2003. During this period a National Conference for launching the project was organized (including a press conference), 6 local and one evaluation seminar. During the period from November 15th till December 19th 2003 a national Campaign with the purpose of promoting and presenting the principles of Gender Equality and the problems of the children whose parents are outside the republic of Moldova.
   The purpose of the project was the creation of a women's network of rayonal and local councillors, NGO leaders with the goal of joining efforts in order to make some changes in at least one issue concerning gender equality.
   The preparation, the technical and logistic assistance in the implementation of thye project "Women Can Do It" at a national level was insured by the team of the "Women's Political Caucus - 50/50" NGO.
   At a local level the organization and development of each local seminar was insured by a team of one local trainer, a trainer instructed regionally and the project coordinator.
   The National Board has assigned 2 women with practical experience and theoretical training in Public Administration from the trainers within "WCDI-I" for the implementation of the project initiated by the GTF SP, namely Ana Bejan and Liliana Gutan that participated at the Training of the Trainers seminar in May 2003, that took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The National Board confirmed the schedule of the local seminars on July the 29th, presented to the regional Coordinator and 6 local trainers were appointed.
   Meanwhile the order to edit 200 more manuals "Women can do it!" and 200 manuals "Take down the Pyramids" was made, the manuals were distributed to the participants at the seminars.
   The implementation of the poject "Women Can Do It" began with the National Launching Conference that took place on August 5th 2003 in the conference room of the Theatre "Ginta Latina".
   The following people were invited and attended the Conference:
   R. Plamadeala, chief of department "Democracy and Human Rights", National Bureau for the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
   A. Apostol, Vice minister, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection
   L. Gutan, Representative of the Presidency
   Representatives of women's NGOs
   Members of the National Board for implementation of the projects launched by the SP GTF
   Mass media representatives.
   At the opening of the National Conference the participants were welcomed by Mrs. A. Apostol, vice minister, who mentioned the purpose of the project.
   The Coordinator of the project, Mrs. E. Mardarovici, made a wide presentation of the project "Women Can Do It III" at a regional level and talked about the importance of more active participation of women rayonal councilors in the process of promoting equal opportunities principles in all areas of the socio-political and economical life of the Republic of Moldova.
   The trainers Ana Bejan and Liliana Gutan delivered a presentation of the project at a national level and spoke about the necessity of identifying the National Campaign's theme.
   Radu Plamadeala described the National Bureau for the Stability pact and saluted the implementation of the project in Moldova.
   The representatives of women's NGOs (V. Bodrug, M. Saharneanu, N. Zghibarta) saluted the launching of the project and offered their support.
   Each participant at the Conference received a short description of the project (2 pages) in Romanian and Russian, according to choice.
   
   The launching of the project "Women Can Do It III" with the press conference and during the National Conference became a true media event: The National Radio Station, EURO TV, "Flux" Press Agency, "Moldova Suverana" newspaper. We can conclude that the project was widely mediated, especially on the Internet.
   We must mention that the local seminars took place according to the Schedule made by the National Board and presented to the regional Coordinator.
   
   24.10.03 Edinet 21 participants from 5 rayons
    Trainers: Ana Bejan, Iulia Tanase
   25.10.03 Balti 19 participants from 4 rayons, the data of this seminar coincided with a Communist Party manifest, because we were informed about this coincidence too late we were not able to change anything, 26 women councilors, NGO leaders and women within the local Public Administration were invited to attend.
    Trainers: Ana Bejan, Ludmila Climanov
   02.11.03 Chisinau 29 participants from 4 rayons
    Trainers: Liliana Gutan, Claudia Sersun
   11.11.03 Comrat 24 participants from 4 rayons
    Trainers:Liliana Gutan, Zinaida Ivanschii
   14.11.03 Hancesti 23 participants from 5 rayons
    Trainers: Ana Bejan, Zinaida Plugaru
   15.11.03 Chisinau 26 participants from 4 rayons
    Trainers: Liliana Gutan, Vera Lipcan
   In total 142 women attended the seminars, at least one rayonal councilor from each of 26 rayons. Women from all parties represented on the rayonal Councils participated: the Communist Party of Moldova (CPRM), the electoral alliance "Alianta Moldova Noastra", the Democrat Party, the electoral alliance "PSD-PSL", the Christian Popular Democratic Party (CPDP), Independent councilors.
   
   The participants at the seminars held the following offices:
   62 rayonal councilors
   2 rayonal vice presidents
   17 local councilors
   10 NGO leaders
   5 union leaders
   4 mayors
   16 representatives of the Local Public Administration
   20 candidates for MPs of the TAU Gagauzia
   
   The participants were of the following ages:
    more than 50 only 17,5%
    between 40 and 50 47,5%
    between 30 and 40 27,5%
    between 20 and 30 7,5%
   
   The representatives of each rayon presented during the seminars the situation of gender equality issues in the "Family", "Economics- the labor market" and "Politics - rayonal councils, mayors". This is how the identification of a number of problems that women are facing was made possible. Problems like the lack of information of the people in the local public administration in gender equality issues, domestic violence, the rising of single parent families (mothers with children usually), human traffic, the situation of children whose parents left the Republic of Moldova to work abroad, illiterate children and so on.
   The problem of promoting gender equality principles opened intense debates, even some of the seminar participants don't understand the same thing when talking about gender equality. The women that participated at the seminars WCDI I reported that a big part of the people that activated in the Local Public Administration are not well informed or aren't informed at all about Gender Equality, often gender equality is viewed as social protection of women or is totally misunderstood.
   If only a part of the identified problems are in the attention of state programs and NGO activities, the problem of the children whose parents left abroad remains one in which the state is not at all involve and no NGO either. But these children that seemingly have no problems due to apparent wealth face big problems. The state has not developed a system of social services in general and one especially for these children. The absence for many years of both parents can not possibly be filled by grandparents (the majority over 70), relatives or friends.
   Thus after several debates it was accepted by the majority of the seminar participants like issues for the National Campaign: Gender Equality and the situation of children with parents abroad. The National Campaign should take place like a round table, organized by women councilors, participants at local seminars also with the participation and coordination of trainers and the project coordinator. It was suggested that Presidents of Rayonal Councils, vice presidents, secretaries, rayonal councilors (men and women), department chiefs, mayors of the localities were the round tables take place, local party leaders and NGO leaders, media representatives should be invited at these round tables. The councilors and the seminar participants should present information concerning the situation of women under the view of gender equality from that locality.
   As we mentioned two issues were accepted by the participants for the National campaign: Gender Equality and the situation of the children whose parents are abroad. The National Board approved these issues and also the way of developing the National campaign.
   The participants at the round table received a binder with a set of document and information:
   a) "The convention concerning the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women"
   b) The Beijing Platform for Action
   c) Information about quotas
   d) Gender theory - notions, definitions
   e) Some of the aspects of the situation of women in the Republic of Moldova and in the locality were the round table took place
   
   During the campaign round tables were organized in the rayons and localities represented at the seminars. In the period November 20th and December 30th 16 round table discussions were organized with the participation of 500 people. Because the National Campaign was organized in November and December, the period when the rayonal councils were working on local budgets for 2004 some of the rayons weren't able to organize the round table but the materials for them are ready, these reunions will be organized in January. Presidents of rayonal councils, vice presidents, council secretaries, department chiefs, mayors of the rayon's city capital, rayon leaders of political parties, NGO leaders, rayonal councilors (women and men) were invited at the round table, as it was established at the local seminars.
   The works of the round table discussions were opened by one of the rayonal councilors, participant at the local seminar that presented the situation of women in the Republic of Moldova and also in the respective rayon. The position of women in the local public administration after the local elections of May 2003:
   From 892 mayors there are only 138 women (15,47%), from 1126 rayonal and municipal councilors there are only 169 women (15,09%). The increase in the number of women local councilors was emphasized.
   Initially, after the presentation of the situation of women in the Republic of Moldova and in the respective rayon the women tried to find the men guilty for the current situation, men that in their turn tried to blame them for the situation. Due to the interventions that women who are initiated in gender issues made during the discussions the conversation was oriented in the direction of finding solutions in order to change the situation of women and the establishment of an equilibrium in society, establishing a partnership between men and women in all areas of activity, including in the family.
   The participants at the round table saluted these kinds of meetings and debates about the issue of promoting and insuring gender equality, they also mentioned the importance of having men as well as women attend the meetings. Determining causes and finding solutions for a real gender equality at a local as well as a national level and not placing guilt, this is the major purpose of those who activate in the field of equal opportunities promotion, this was one of the basic conclusions that was reached by the round table participants.
   The representatives of the Local Public Administration (Presidents of rayonal councils or vice presidents, mayors) proved to be open in supporting initiatives concerning the promotion of equal opportunities but admitted that the initiative should come from the women. They were grateful for the set of materials that they were given.
   At some round table discussions out of 29 participants 2 or 3 attended activities were gender equality issues were discussed.
   Discussions about the problems of children whose parents left abroad were overwhelmed by general concern. Some children, under the age of 10 are left home alone and already started to get involved in illegal activities (robberies, fights). Soon these children will become (some of them already are) part of the risk groups and then the expenses society has to make will be a lot higher. In some rayons there are over 1500 children whose both parents left. Terrible situations were mentioned. These kids need the assistance of professionals, an alternative to village bars were to spend their free time and to spend the money their parents are sending for fun. For the street children there are NGO and projects, for the ones abandoned, orphans or from low income families, for those in conflict with the law there are also projects, NGOs handle their problems but for the children whose both parents are abroad there is nothing, they have plenty of money (in most of the cases) and bars.
   The evaluation seminar for the project "Women Can Do It - III" took place on December 20th 2003 in Chisinau. The works of the seminar took place in the Conference room of the State Cancellary Cantine.
   The following people attended:

• Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the republic of moldova, Lilia pascal
• The organizers and implimentors of the project in Moldova
• The people responsible for the organization of the round table discussions from the rayons: Stefan voda, Criuleni, Ialoveni, Cahul, Ungheni, Soldanesti, Edinet, Soroca, Balti.
• Representatives of NGOs, members of the National WCDI Board.

• Information about the seminars, their content, the participants and the conclusions of local seminars, the National Campaign, Ecaterina Mardarovici
• Conclusions and impressions of the local seminars were presented by the trainers instructed at a regional level, Ana Bejan and Liliana Gutan.
• Presentation of the local trainers' opinion
• Presentation of the participants and organizers' of the round table within the National campaign representatives opinions
• The speech of the Labor and Social protection Ministry representatives.
• Discussions about the problems discussed during the National Campaign and conclusions
• Conclusions - the regional WCDI III evaluator, Dina Loghin.