18-09-2025
On 1 September, the
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Moldova, PISA (Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives) and
WO=MEN, Dutch Gender Platform, organised an online conversation on countering disinformation. In the run-up to parliamentary elections in Moldova at the end of this month, civil society, particularly women's organisations, is witnessing significant foreign interference, including vote buying and disinformation campaigns, particularly from Russia.
Online disinformation in Moldova can take the form of:
- Use of family and motherhood narratives to manipulate public perception
- Positive framing of "mothers” vs. negative framing of "childless women”
- Emotional exploitation of children and family ties to discredit women leaders
- Gender stereotypes used to question competence and leadership ability
There is one common purpose: all are used to undermine the credibility of women in politics, according to
Elena Marzac (Director PISA).
Not only in Moldova but a global backlash on gender equality, democratic values and independent media is happening on a global scale. Facing this, our speakers gave some advice and suggestions on counter strategies:
- Peto Andrea (historian and Professor at the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University, Vienna): "Strengthening your guild: join a professional organization, pay the fee, and support your professional network. The professional network is not your family; you do not need to love and agree with all members but should share the basic principles of professional ethics. That firm value is already a blow to "illiberal pragmatism.””
- Camelia Crişan (Director Progress Foundation): "We need to educate-educate-educate. Understand where the anger is coming from and propose moderate positions as an alternative. We also need to provide counter-narrative opportunities.”
- Anne-Floor Dekker (Director WO=MEN): "Recognize early warning signs of gender disinformation campaigns and recognize that this is not a genuine debate in society, but part of a strategy to undermine our society, our way of living.”
The session was well attended by civil society, government staff and academics from different parts of Europe. This resulted in an interesting and highly relevant exchange of analysis, experience and counter strategies from Moldova, Romania, Hungary and the Netherlands.
