Good morning, dear colleagues, partners, and participants,
It is truly an honor and a privilege to join you today for this very special performance, created by and for adolescents, dedicated to the prevention of violence against women, boys, and girls.
Today’s performance uses the powerful method of Verbatim Theatre—a form of storytelling where every word comes directly from real-life testimonies. Nothing has been invented or polished. The voices you will hear are unfiltered echoes of people’s lived pain and resilience. And that is what makes it so powerful. So human. So urgent.
Violence often wears a mask. It hides in the silence of homes, behind polite smiles, in the fear of children too afraid to speak. But through art—and especially through theatre—we can pull back that mask. We can shine a light into the shadows without further hurting those already in pain. Art gives us a way to speak the unspeakable.
Fiction—when done with care—doesn’t blur reality; it sharpens it. It removes what distracts us and leaves behind what truly matters. It helps us see the unseen and hear what is too often left unsaid. It lifts the invisible into view, offering dignity and space to those whose stories are too rarely told.
Domestic violence remains a heartbreakingly serious problem in the Republic of Moldova. In the last couple of years, 45 mothers, daughters, and sons lost their lives to it. And just last year, 28 more were murdered — 7 more than the year before. These are not numbers. These are lives cut short.
But the harm doesn’t stop there. According to a study conducted in Moldova in 2024, men (21%) and women (13%) still believe that wives should tolerate violence to keep their families together. These beliefs keep cycles of pain spinning across generations. And they silence the victims.
Too many people suffer quietly. Because of stigma. Because they don’t know where to turn. Because we as a society still don’t talk enough, don’t listen enough, don’t believe enough.
Yes, Moldova has taken steps forward. Our laws have improved. Services have grown. But legislation is not enough when harmful norms persist and people don’t know their rights—or don’t believe they deserve to live free from violence.
Domestic violence is not just a private issue. It is a human rights violation. A public health emergency. A social wound that affects us all. And each of us—whether policymaker, parent, teacher, or teenager—has a part to play in healing it.
This performance also carries a message of hope. If you or someone you know is living in fear, please know: you are not alone. There is a way out. There are people who care. People who will listen. Support services are here, and they are ready.
We hope what you witness today stays with you. That it challenges you. That it changes something inside you. Because change begins not with systems, but with people. With each of us deciding to speak out, to show up, and to believe that a better world is not only possible—it is necessary.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners: Youth Center Trușeni, the Local Council of Strășeni, the GBV Agency, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Education. Your commitment made this moment possible.
Mulțumesc!
