Rețeaua Femeilor pentru Democrație "Women's Democracy Network” (WDN)

The Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) was established in Moldova in 2010 as a civic initiative promoting women’s leadership and participation in public and political life . Between 2010 and 2020, WDN operated as an informal network. In 2021, it acquired legal status as a non-governmental organisation under the name Rețea Femeilor pentru Democrație Women’s Democracy Network. WDN’s mission is to strengthen women’s political, civic, and leadership capacities in order to advance inclusive governance, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation within a democratic society . The organisation promotes democratic participation, pluralism, gender equality, dialogue across divides, and social cohesion. Over the years, WDN has implemented long-term leadership and democracy programmes across Moldova, including the Women’s Political Leadership Academy (2015–2019), which engaged women from all regions of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region . Between 2012 and 2016, WDN organised ten editions of the Women’s Political School, training over 400 women in leadership, public speaking, advocacy, and political participation. In recent years, WDN has focused strongly on peacebuilding and conflict transformation. In partnership with UN Women and with support from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, WDN implemented the Women’s Peace Ambassadors project (2023–2024), establishing five Peace Hubs across Moldova and building a network of nearly 500 women engaged in dialogue and community-based peace initiatives . Today, WDN works at the intersection of women’s leadership, democratic dialogue, and peacebuilding, applying participatory and learning-by-doing approaches to strengthen resilient and inclusive democratic practices at community level.