For over two decades, the walls of Marina’s home were the boundaries of her prison. For twenty-two years, she endured a harrowing cycle of physical and emotional battery at the hands of her husband. When she finally found the courage to take her two children and leave in 2021, she believed the nightmare was ending. But as she filed for divorce and attempted to rebuild a life defined by autonomy, her abuser found a new, more insidious way to reach her. The violence did not vanish; it simply migrated into the digital ether.
Marina became the target of a sophisticated campaign of tech-facilitated terror. Her husband hired a third party to surveil her, filming her movements without consent and stalking her every step. The harassment then escalated into the digital realm: fake social media profiles were created in her name, maliciously suggesting she was a sex worker, while her inbox was flooded with graphic death threats. Under the current legal framework in Moldova, these digital assaults are often relegated to the status of mere misdemeanors. For years, perpetrators of online stalking and harassment have faced little more than nominal fines—a slap on the wrist for a campaign of terror that leaves deep, lasting psychological scars.
However, a landmark legislative shift is set to transform the justice landscape for women like Marina. Beginning February 14, 2026, the Republic of Moldova will implement a series of robust legal amendments designed to criminalize digital violence and provide survivors with the protection they have long been denied. This legislative overhaul marks a turning point in the nation’s approach to gender-based violence, recognizing that a screen provides no shield for criminal behavior.
The scale of the problem in Moldova is staggering. Statistics reveal that more than 65 percent of women aged 18 and older who are active online have experienced some form of digital violence in their lifetime. Despite the ubiquity of these experiences, the law has historically struggled to keep pace with the evolution of technology. Until now, the legal system lacked a comprehensive definition of digital harm, often leaving victims in a jurisdictional vacuum where their suffering was dismissed as a private grievance rather than a public crime.
The new amendments change this narrative by formally defining digital violence as any act of harm committed through information technologies or electronic communications. Crucially, the law introduces the concept of "abusive content data." This definition encompasses discriminatory, sexist, threatening, obscene, or defamatory digital materials, creating a clear, actionable legal basis for prosecution. For the first time, stalking will be a distinct criminal offense. Those found guilty of stalking or digital harassment face up to two years in prison—a sentence that increases to three years if the perpetrator is a family member. These provisions cover a wide range of behaviors, from the use of tracking devices and repeated unwanted digital contact to the monitoring of a person’s home or workplace through online surveillance tools.
This legislative victory is the culmination of a concerted, multi-year effort by a coalition of domestic and international advocates. The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova worked alongside the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (ANPCV), UN Women, UNFPA, the Council of Europe, and various civil society organizations to draft and push through these protections.
Viorica Șimbalari, the Director of the ANPCV, emphasizes that these changes are about more than just legal text; they are about human dignity. "For us, ensuring safety in the digital space means expanding the concept of safety into every sphere of life," Șimbalari stated. She views digital violence as one of the defining challenges of the modern era, but also as an opportunity for the justice system to demonstrate its ability to evolve. "Digital violence is a challenge of our time, but also an opportunity to show that justice, empathy, and respect can evolve along with technology."
Recognizing that a law is only as effective as its enforcement, the ANPCV is already looking toward 2026. The Agency plans to launch comprehensive training programs for police officers, criminal investigators, prosecutors, and judges. The goal is to ensure that by the time the law enters into force, the entire judicial chain is equipped to handle the technical complexities of digital evidence and the sensitive nature of tech-facilitated abuse.
While the legislative changes offer a roadmap for the future, the immediate needs of survivors are being met through grassroots legal aid. UN Women, with funding from the Government of Denmark, has partnered with the Dacia Centre in Soroca to provide free legal counseling and courtroom representation for women navigating the aftermath of abuse. For Marina, this support was the difference between justice and despair. "This support was a lifeline," she recalls. "I was at the end of my strength. I couldn’t believe that someone would help me for free."
Marina’s lawyer, Tatiana Vicol-Felișcan, has seen firsthand how digital tools have become weapons in the hands of abusers. She notes that psychological violence, while often invisible, is the most pervasive form of abuse she encounters. "Psychological violence is the most widespread and, at the same time, the least recognized form of abuse," Vicol-Felișcan explains. "Increasingly, it goes hand in hand with intimidation or blackmail online." She argues that while the new laws are a massive step forward, the legal system must also adopt more survivor-centric practices, such as the expanded use of video hearings. This would allow survivors to testify without the trauma of facing their abusers in person, ensuring they feel "heard and protected, not judged."
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the physical reality of Marina’s situation. Even as she fought through the legal system, the violence remained a constant threat. Just last month, her husband attacked her again, inflicting serious head injuries that have left her unable to work. Without the free legal aid provided by the Dacia Centre, her ability to continue divorce proceedings and seek protection would have been entirely erased by her financial and physical vulnerability.
Beyond stalking, the new amendments also take aim at sexual harassment. The penalties for online and offline sexual harassment are being significantly toughened. Offenders will now face fines of up to USD 3,000, 120 to 240 hours of community service, or up to four years in prison—effectively doubling the previous maximum sentence. In cases where the victim is a minor, the stakes are even higher, with sentences reaching up to seven years.
Dominika Stojanoska, the UN Women Moldova Country Representative, views these developments as a testament to the country’s growing commitment to gender equality. "These amendments reflect Moldova’s strong commitment to protecting the dignity, freedom, and safety of women and girls, including in the digital space," she says. However, she remains focused on the road ahead, noting that the ultimate success of the law depends on its rigorous implementation and the continuous education of those tasked with applying it.
The broader hope among advocates is that these legal changes will catalyze a cultural shift. By criminalizing digital violence, the state is sending a clear message that online abuse is not a "private matter" or a harmless byproduct of the internet age—it is a violation of human rights. For Marina, the most important outcome is the removal of the stigma that so often silences survivors.
"I wish more women knew that digital violence is also violence and that they can get help for free," Marina says. Through her journey and the counseling she received, she has begun to reclaim her narrative. "I understood that it’s not me who should feel ashamed—it’s the aggressor. I hope that more women and girls will come to understand that."
As the international community observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Moldova’s legislative progress serves as a model for how nations can address the "shadow pandemic" of digital abuse. The UNiTE campaign, running from November 25 to December 10, continues to advocate for the principle that there is #NoExcuse for violence in any form. For the women of Moldova, the countdown to February 2026 is more than just a legal timeline; it is the beginning of a future where the digital world is a space of empowerment rather than a minefield of fear.
