For more than two decades, Marina* lived a life defined by the shadows of domestic terror. Her marriage was a cycle of physical strikes and emotional erosion, a reality she endured for 22 years before finding the strength to take her two children and leave. In the autumn of 2021, she filed for divorce, hoping the separation would signal the end of her nightmare. But as she soon discovered, the walls of a home are no longer the boundaries of abuse. In the modern age, the perpetrator does not need to be in the room to inflict trauma; they only need a connection to the internet.
What followed for Marina was a relentless campaign of “technology-facilitated gender-based violence.” Her ex-husband, unwilling to relinquish control, transitioned from physical violence to a sophisticated digital siege. He allegedly hired a third party to film her without her knowledge, tracking her movements through the streets and monitoring her private interactions. He weaponized social media, creating fraudulent accounts in her name that falsely advertised her as a sex worker—a tactic designed to destroy her reputation and social standing. The digital harassment was punctuated by direct death threats sent through messaging apps. For Marina, the world had become a panopticon where no space, not even her own smartphone, felt safe.
Under the current legal framework in Moldova, these digital assaults are often treated with frustrating leniency. Online threats and harassment are frequently categorized as mere misdemeanors, punishable by small fines that do little to deter a determined abuser. For survivors like Marina, this lack of legal teeth feels like a second betrayal by the state. However, a landmark legislative shift is on the horizon. Starting February 14, 2026, the Republic of Moldova will enact sweeping new legal amendments that criminalize digital violence, providing a robust shield for women and girls who have long been vulnerable in the virtual sphere.
The new law marks a paradigm shift in how the Moldovan justice system views stalking. Under the upcoming penal code, stalking will be recognized as a criminal offense. Perpetrators could face up to two years in prison, a sentence that increases to three years if the abuser is a family member. These amendments are intentionally broad, designed to capture the evolving nature of modern harassment. They cover everything from the use of GPS tracking and hidden cameras to the “repeated and unwanted” attempts to contact a person via any electronic medium. Whether an abuser is physically lurking outside a workplace or digitally monitoring a victim’s home through smart devices, the law will now recognize these actions as criminal infringements on personal liberty.
The necessity of this legislation is underscored by chilling statistics. In Moldova, a staggering 65 percent of women aged 18 and older who use the internet have reported experiencing some form of digital violence in their lifetime. This is not a niche issue; it is a systemic epidemic. Until now, the legal system lacked a clear definition of these acts. The new amendments fix this by codifying “digital violence” as any act of harm perpetrated through information technology or electronic communications. Furthermore, the law introduces the concept of “abusive content data,” which encompasses discriminatory, sexist, obscene, or defamatory materials. This provides prosecutors with a concrete legal foundation to pursue those who use the internet as a weapon of character assassination.
This legislative victory was not achieved in a vacuum. It is the culmination of years of advocacy and collaboration between the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV), and international partners including UN Women, UNFPA, and the Council of Europe. It reflects a growing global recognition that digital rights are human rights, and that the safety of women in the 21st century is inextricably linked to their safety online.
Viorica Țîmbalari, the Director of the ANPCV, views these changes as an essential evolution of the social contract. “For us, ensuring safety in the digital space means expanding the concept of safety into every sphere of life,” Țîmbalari explained. She acknowledges that while technology has created new avenues for abuse, it also provides an opportunity for the legal system to demonstrate its adaptability and commitment to justice. The Agency is already looking toward 2026, planning extensive training programs for police officers, prosecutors, and judges. The goal is to ensure that when the law takes effect, the front-line responders are equipped to handle the technical complexities of digital evidence and the psychological nuances of cyber-stalking.
While the law changes the future, organizations on the ground are working to save the present. Through a UN Women project supported by the Government of Denmark, the Dacia Centre in Soroca has become a sanctuary for survivors. The center provides free legal counseling and courtroom representation, services that are often the only thing standing between a survivor and total destitution. For Marina, the Dacia Centre was a “lifeline.” Having lost her ability to work due to a recent physical assault by her husband—which left her with debilitating head injuries—she would have been unable to afford the legal fees required to finalize her divorce and seek protection.
Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, a human rights lawyer at the Dacia Centre, has seen firsthand how digital and psychological violence intertwine. “Psychological violence is the most widespread and, at the same time, the least recognized form of abuse,” she noted. Vicol-Felișcan emphasizes that online intimidation and blackmail are rarely isolated incidents; they are usually part of a broader pattern of coercion. While she welcomes the new laws, she advocates for further systemic changes, such as the implementation of video hearings. Such measures would allow survivors to testify without the re-traumatization of being in the same room as their abuser. “They must feel heard and protected, not judged,” she insists.
The legislative package also takes aim at sexual harassment, significantly ratcheting up the penalties for offenders. Under the new rules, those found guilty of sexual harassment—including in digital formats—could face fines of up to USD 3,000, hundreds of hours of community service, or up to four years in prison. This is a doubling of the previous maximum sentence. In cases where the victim is a minor, the severity of the crime is reflected in a potential seven-year prison term.
Dominika Stojanoska, the UN Women Moldova Country Representative, sees these amendments as a testament to Moldova’s commitment to the Istanbul Convention and the broader protection of women’s dignity. “Now these provisions must be implemented, and those in charge must be trained to apply the new legal framework effectively,” she stated. The transition period between now and 2026 is critical for building the infrastructure of enforcement.
Beyond the courtroom, these laws serve a vital cultural function: they shift the burden of shame from the victim to the perpetrator. For decades, survivors of “revenge porn” or online stalking were often told to “just turn off the computer” or were blamed for their digital presence. The new law codifies the reality that the abuser is the sole party responsible for the violence.
Marina, though still healing from her injuries and the ongoing legal battle, finds hope in the idea that her struggle might pave the way for others. “I wish more women knew that digital violence is also violence and that they can get help for free,” she said. Through her counseling, she has undergone a profound internal shift. “I understood that it’s not me who should feel ashamed—it’s the aggressor.”
As Moldova prepares for the 2026 implementation, the country is also participating in the global “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.” Running from November 25 to December 10, the UNiTE campaign carries the theme #NoExcuse, specifically highlighting the need to purge digital spaces of harassment. The campaign serves as a reminder that while laws provide the framework for justice, it is the collective action of society—and the courage of women like Marina—that truly breaks the cycle of abuse.
*The name has been changed to protect the identity and safety of the survivor.*
