Moldova’s innovative approach to end violence against women presented at Oxford University

UN Women Moldova Representative, Ulziisuren Jamsran, with faculty members at Oxford University. Photo: UN Women Moldova

At Oxford University, UN Women Country Representative for Moldova, Ulziisuren Jamsran, presented innovative methods used by UN Women to eliminate violence against women and girls. By introducing and applying positive deviance method, an approach where women that found a solution to end violence in their lives support their peers, UN Women Moldova managed to considerably increase the number of women who know their rights and request support services from local authorities.

Participants of the CCC Executive Masters program at Oxford University, used role playing to better understand the domestic violence issue, and went through a solution discovery process. Photo: UN Women Moldova

UN Women Moldova is the regional leader in promoting and applying innovative methods to combat gender-based violence. Since 2016, UN Women has been promoting solutions that put survivors of domestic violence at the forefront of prevention by encouraging them to share their experiences with other women suffering from abuse. In only one year, the positive deviance method introduced by UN Women empowered 44 “positive champions,” women who overcame violence and now support other women do the same. These champions visited more than 20 town and villages in the country and spoke to more than 1,000 women about taking the first step towards a life free of violence.

The session was organized by Oxford University Consulting and Coaching for Change (CCC) Executive Masters Program. 37 participants, including 25 women, with an extensive experience in the private and public sectors, civil society and international organizations, attended the session.

“The participants and faculty members have shown great interest in the field of ending violence against women. Oxford’s CCC Program offers an ideal opportunity for change leaders to get a better understanding of the problem and to bring their own solutions,” says Ulziisuren Jamsran.

 “I learned that in any organization or situation there are people who already have the solutions. These solutions can be identified and used to benefit the entire organization or society,” says Sneziwe Damaseb, one of the participants from South Africa, who works in the private sector.

Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Moldova Representative, presented the organisation’s innovative approach in ending violence against women as a case study at Oxford University. Photo: UN Women Moldova

The Consulting and Coaching for Change Executive Masters program is carried out by HEC Paris and Said Business School of Oxford University. The students of this program come from all continents and are professionals with an average experience of 20 years in various fields. The program is addressed to managers and consultants in development and social change.

“Everyone was very impressed with the way this case study was prepared. Participants of this executive level program had both a practical and emotional experience. Many of them also felt a personal connection to the issue of eliminating violence,” says Lars Thuesen, faculty member at Oxford University who participated in developing the case study together with UN Women.

UN Women Moldova will continue working with Oxford University and other universities to share experiences and discuss solutions to the most complex problems.