For All Women and Girls: Lawyer Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan on breaking the circle of violence to live a life of dignity, without fear

#ForAllWomenandGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 2025, the world marks 30 years since the landmark 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing – a defining moment in the global movement for gender equality. Among those carrying this legacy forward is Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, a human rights lawyer from northern Moldova. Through her daily work, she helps women survivors of violence access justice and safety, offering free legal aid and counselling. 

From Strasbourg studies to defending women’s rights

Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, 39, is a lawyer specializing in domestic and gender-based violence cases. After earning her law degree in Moldova, she pursued a master’s in Strasbourg, under the auspices of the European Court of Human Rights.

For the past five years, she has been working with the Women’s and Youth Resource Centre DACIA in Soroca city, 130 kilometers north of Chișinău, offering free legal support to women survivors. But her work extends far beyond Soroca district, as she represents cases across the country.

“I chose to work in human rights protection because I want to prevent and combat domestic and gender-based violence, which unfortunately remains widespread in our society. Women should not suffer in silence. There are solutions and people ready to help them,” Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan says.

Through UN Women’s project “Enhancing Women's Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, funded by Denmark, Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan and her colleagues provide counselling, court representation, and even a 24/7 emergency hotline. “Since February 2025, when it was launched, we have received around 100 calls, including at night, and assisted more than 50 women and girls, out of which 10 were supported with court representation,” she explains.

Barriers that keep women trapped

Despite improvements in Moldova’s legislation, survivors still face barriers such as financial dependence, stigma, and fear of revictimization. “I’ve worked with Roma women who withdrew complaints under family pressure. I’ve also seen women return to perpetrators because they had no economic alternatives,” notes the lawyer.

Women facing multiple vulnerabilities - those with disabilities, from marginalized communities, or living in rural areas - are particularly at risk. “They need rapid access to free legal counselling, shelters, and psychological support. Only then can they break the cycle of violence,” she emphasizes.

Criminalizing digital violence and stronger protection orders

Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan points out that psychological and digital violence are growing threats. “Psychological violence is the most widespread and at the same time the least recognized form of abuse. Increasingly, it goes hand in hand with intimidation or blackmail online.”

Recent legislative changes in Moldova bring her hope. In July 2025, the country criminalized several forms of technology-facilitated violence, including stalking and non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Protection orders have also been extended from three to six months. “For survivors, this period is vital. It gives them more time to heal, find a job, and start building an independent life,” Vicol-Felișcan says.

Still, she stresses the need for continuous training for police, prosecutors, and judges, as well as the expansion of video hearings to help women survivors avoid retraumatization. “They must feel heard and protected, not judged.”

Change begins with early education and self-love

For Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, education from early childhood is crucial to ending violence. “Children should learn in kindergarten what respect and consent mean.”

She also urges women to find courage and confidence to step away from violence. “Dear women, be strong. You are not alone. There are programmes, organizations, and people ready to help you. Love yourselves and never accept violence in any form. Life is beautiful and deserves to be lived in dignity and safety,” she concludes.