Moldovan parliament adopts comprehensive measures to protect women, journalists from violence, including digital violence

The MPs today adopted, in the second reading, a draft law that includes additional measures to protect women against all forms of violence, including those exercised through information technologies. The law also imposes tougher sanctions on those who intimidate journalists or restrict their activities.

The document was voted by 62 deputies and was developed by a group of representatives from the Action and Solidarity Party’s (PAS) fraction, in collaboration with the National Agency for Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Family Violence.

The new provisions include, for the first time, the concept of “violence with a digital dimension,” allowing authorities to intervene in cases of abuse committed online – including harassment, stalking on social networks, publishing intimate images without consent or attacks on digital accounts. The law allows measures, such as requiring the perpetrator to delete abusive content, prohibiting the use of anonymous electronic communication services or restricting access to digital networks.

At the same time, the definition of economic violence has been expanded to include cases where the perpetrator illegally uses the victim's bank funds. The durations for applying protection measures have been extended. The protection order can be issued for a period of up to 6 months (compared to 3 months previously), and the emergency restriction order – up to 20 days (compared to 10 days).

The law also brings significant changes to the Criminal Code. They include the introduction of the offense of persecution, which includes physical or online stalking, repeated contact with the victim and publishing intimate information without consent; defining forced marriage as a distinct criminal offense; and increasing penalties for sexual harassment, which will range from fines of up to 50,000 lei, unpaid community work, to up to 4 years in prison.

An important element introduced in the second reading concerns the protection of journalists. Those who intimidate press representatives or obstruct their activities will be penalized according to criminal or contravention law.

According to data included in the information note, 73 per cent of women of Moldova who have had a partner have been subjected to some form of violence, especially psychological in nature. In 2024, authorities issued 1,104 protection orders, nearly half of which (498) were violated.

The law will come into effect after promulgation and publication in the Official Journal.