For over two decades, the walls of Marina’s home served as the silent witnesses to a cycle of physical and emotional torment. For 22 years, she endured the volatility of a husband whose abuse was a constant shadow over her life and the lives of her two children. In 2021, she finally found the courage to leave, seeking the legal dissolution of a marriage that had become a prison. But as she moved out of the shared physical space, she discovered that the reach of an abuser in the modern age extends far beyond the front door. The violence did not end with the separation; it simply evolved, migrating from the physical world into the digital one.
Marina soon found herself the target of a sophisticated campaign of tech-facilitated terror. Her husband allegedly hired a third party to surveil her, filming her without her consent and tracking her movements. The privacy of her new life was shattered by the creation of fraudulent social media accounts—digital effigies designed to humiliate her by claiming she offered sexual services. Threats of death arrived via digital messaging, turning her smartphone into a source of constant dread. Under Moldova’s current legal framework, such digital incursions are often dismissed as mere misdemeanors, punishable by little more than a nominal fine. For survivors like Marina, this lack of legal teeth has long meant that while the medium of abuse changed, the sense of impunity for the perpetrator remained.
However, a tectonic shift in Moldova’s legal landscape is underway. Beginning February 14, 2026, a series of landmark legal amendments will officially enter into force, signaling a new era of protection for women and girls. These changes are designed to bridge the gap between traditional law and the realities of 21st-century harassment. Under the new statutes, stalking—including its digital manifestations—will be elevated to a criminal offense. Perpetrators could face up to two years in prison, a sentence that increases to three years if the offender is a family member. The law is comprehensive, covering the use of information technology to monitor a person’s home or workplace, as well as repeated, unwanted attempts at contact through any electronic medium.
The necessity of this legislation is underscored by a sobering reality: in Moldova, digital violence is not an outlier but a pervasive experience. Research indicates that 65 percent of women aged 18 and older who are active online have experienced some form of digital abuse. Until now, the legal system lacked the vocabulary to address these acts as specific crimes. The new amendments provide that vocabulary, defining digital violence as any act of harm perpetrated through information technology or electronic communication. Furthermore, the law introduces the concept of “abusive content data,” which includes discriminatory, sexist, obscene, or defamatory materials. This provides prosecutors with a clear, standardized basis for pursuing cases that were previously relegated to legal gray zones.
This legislative milestone is the culmination of a massive, multi-sectoral effort. It represents a rare alignment 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 bodies including UN Women, UNFPA, and the Council of Europe. It is a recognition that in an increasingly connected world, the concept of a “safe space” must include the digital realm.
Viorica Șimbalari, Director of the ANPCV, views the law as a vital evolution of the social contract. She emphasizes that safety cannot be compartmentalized; it must exist in every sphere of life, whether physical or virtual. According to Șimbalari, digital violence is a defining challenge of the current era, but it also presents an opportunity for the justice system to demonstrate empathy and adaptability. The agency is already looking toward the 2026 implementation date, planning extensive training modules for police officers, criminal investigators, prosecutors, and judges. The goal is to ensure that when the law takes effect, the front-line responders are equipped with the technical and psychological expertise required to handle these complex cases.
While the law provides the framework for justice, the path to recovery for survivors requires immediate, tangible support. For Marina, that support came in the form of free legal aid through the Dacia Centre in Soroca. This initiative, supported by UN Women and funded by the Government of Denmark, provides survivors with the counseling and representation they often cannot afford. For many women, the financial burden of a protracted legal battle is a barrier as formidable as the abuse itself. Marina describes this aid as a “lifeline,” admitting that without it, she would have lacked the strength and resources to continue her fight for a divorce and for her own safety.
Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, a human rights lawyer at the Dacia Centre, has witnessed the rising tide of psychological and digital violence firsthand. She notes that while physical bruises eventually heal, the psychological scars of online intimidation and blackmail can be even more enduring. Vicol-Felișcan points out that psychological violence remains the most widespread yet least recognized form of abuse. She advocates for a systemic shift in how survivors are treated by the state, calling for regular training for judicial officials and the expanded use of video hearings. Such measures are crucial for allowing survivors to testify without the added trauma of facing their abusers in person.
The struggle for Marina is far from over. Even as the legal wheels turn, the threat of physical violence remains a constant presence. Only a month ago, she suffered a brutal attack that left her with serious head injuries, rendering her unable to work. This underscores the grim reality that digital stalking is often a precursor to, or a continuation of, physical assault. The intersection of these two forms of violence is what makes the new legislation so critical; by intervening in cases of digital stalking and harassment, the state may be able to prevent the escalation into physical harm.
In addition to stalking, the new amendments take a hard line against sexual harassment, particularly in digital contexts. The penalties have been significantly bolstered, with offenders facing fines of up to USD 3,000, hundreds of hours of community service, or up to four years in prison—doubling the previous maximum sentence. In cases where the victim is a minor, the prison term can reach seven years. Dominika Stojanoska, the UN Women Moldova Country Representative, describes these provisions as a testament to Moldova’s commitment to the dignity and freedom of its female citizens. She stresses that the focus must now shift to effective implementation, ensuring that the legal framework is not just a document, but a living shield for those in danger.
Ultimately, the goal of these laws is to foster a cultural shift. Legislation has the power to change mindsets by clearly defining what is unacceptable in a civilized society. For Marina, the hope is that this law will strip away the shame that survivors often carry. Through her counseling, she has come to understand that the stigma belongs to the aggressor, not the victim. She hopes that by speaking out, she can encourage other women to recognize that digital violence is real violence, and that help is available.
This legislative push coincides with the global “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” a campaign running from November 25 to December 10. Under the theme #NoExcuse, the campaign seeks to highlight the minefield of harassment and control that the digital world has become for millions of women and girls. In Moldova, the transition from a culture of silence to one of accountability is beginning. As the country prepares for the 2026 enforcement of these laws, the message is clear: the digital world will no longer be a sanctuary for abusers. For survivors like Marina, it is the first glimpse of a future where safety is not just a hope, but a right protected by the full force of the law.
