Moldova

2025

2022

2018

The highest possible score for a country is 100, and the lowest is -15. You can expand the different sections below to understand how the score was calculated for each indicator.

Indicator scores

Anti-Discrimination Legislation Applicable to Education

7.5

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Anti-LGBTQI Measures

The Education Code of Moldova (1995, amended in 2014) was amended in 2022 to include the notion of bullying. The Code however still does not mention SOGIGESC as a protected criteria.

The grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity were added to the open-ended list of protected grounds in the Equality Act in 2023.

Policies and Action Plans

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No anti-bullying policy or national action plan: 0/10 | Anti-bullying policy or national action plan covering one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

There are no policies or action plans in place currently in Moldova with respect to SOGIGESC issues. The Human Rights Action Plan for 2018-2022 mentions LGBT people in its discussion of non-discrimination and equality, but does not include specific measures on inclusive education and SOGIGESC issues.

ECRI has encouraged the authorities to develop, in close consultation with relevant civil society organisations, a specific programme of action on LGBTQI equality.

Inclusive Compulsory Education Curricula

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No evidence of compulsory national curricula inclusive of LGBTQI people: 0/10 | The compulsory national curricula includes representation of one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

The 2014 Education Code of Moldova mentions diversity, but not SOGIGESC.

There is no mandatory sex education in place. Sex and relationship education that is carried out does not mention SOGIGESC issues.

The compulsory curriculum includes a human rights curriculum which does not include discussion of discrimination on the basis of SOGIGESC.

‍ECRI has stressed that providing factual, non-stigmatising information on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics is imperative to preventing and combating LGBTQIphobia, at school and beyond, and to creating a safer and more inclusive learning environment for all.

Mandatory Teacher Training on LGBTQI Inclusion

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No mention of SOGIGESC in the mandatory teacher training programme: 0/10 Mandatory teacher training program with mention of one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

There is no mandatory teacher training on LGBTQI awareness in Moldova.

The NGO GENDERDOC-M carries out occasional trainings on SOGIGE issues for school and university teachers, as well as occasional trainings for school students on bias-motivated bullying.

School Environment and Partnerships

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Hostile environment

Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

Students and youth organisations are present in primary and secondary schools, but no LGBTQI groups exist. ECRI’s 2024 report on Moldova intolerance and discrimination against LGBTQI people is widespread and hate speech is alarmingly common, including by political leaders. Local NGOs have worked on inclusive education topics, despite the hostile political climate.

ECRI has also reported that bullying is a major problem in Moldovan schools, and that LGBTQI children were among those identified as more exposed to bullying. A 2022 research also revealed that teachers often held or expressed negative opinions about LGBTQI people in the classroom.

In 2023, a school psychologist in Chisinau told students to “not tolerate ‘dysfunctions’ like lesbians, gays, and bisexuals” and “report those people to her” so she can “cure them”. GENDERDOC-M reported the case and suggested the Ministry of Education hold awareness training for psychologists at schools. The Ministry did not accept the offer.

In 2022, a 16-year-old trans girl committed suicide after being repeatedly and brutally bullied by students, and the school administration failing to intervene on numerous occasions. A new trans advocacy group was set up as part of GENDERDOC-M. The organisation held a training of trainers for 38 individuals working in the education sector.

In 2024, an audio recording revealed that an English teacher in a high-school, was spreading pro-Kremlin narratives and homophobic claims to students, including Ukrainian refugees. Her statements included anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, conspiracy theories about President Maia Sandu, and allegations that EU integration would promote gender changes and same-sex marriages. Students reported other teachers delivering similar messages aligned with Kremlin propaganda.

The government does not provide funding, nor does it actively work in partnership with NGOs in relation to LGBTQI-inclusive education.

Legal Gender Recognition

/10

Legal gender recognition without self-determination

Legal gender recognition with self-determination (over 16)

Legal gender recognition with self-determination (under 16)

No gender recognition provisions: 0/10 | There are laws and provisions, but with legal/medical/psychological approval: 5/10 | There are laws for self-determination, but only for those over 16 years of age: 7,5/10 | There are laws on gender self-determination, including those under 16 years of age: 10/10

There is no legal gender recognition law in place in Moldova, but LGR is possible through an administrative procedure. The process is not reliable, not based on self-determination, requires a medical certificate, and is inaccessible to minors.

The Ministry of Justice has been working on a legal gender recognition law. In 2022, the Equality Council established that the lack of a legal framework constitutes discrimination against trans people.

There are no policies or guidelines allowing students to use their preferred name in schools and/or universities before they legally change their name and gender marker.

Data Collection on Bullying and Harassment

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

There is no evidence of national or regional data collection on bullying and harassment in education environments, or SO, GIGE and SC are not specifically mentioned: 0/10 | National or regional data on bullying and harassment in education environments is collected and disaggregated for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

The government does not provide data on bullying. GENDERDOC-M’s annual report covers discrimination cases in education.

Support Systems for LGBTQI Young People

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

There is no evidence of support systems specifically designed for LGBTQI learners: 0/10 | Direct or indirect support systems are provided by schools or local authorities, but the providers lack training in LGBTQI-related issues: 0/10 | Direct or indirect support systems are provided by schools or local authorities for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

The government provides no specific support system for LGBTQI learners and their families.

There are no uniform direct support and relief services in schools. However, some schools employ social workers and psychologists. Civil society organisations are not aware of cases where LGBTQI students have reported their cases to them. GENDERDOC-M Information Centre trains psychologists and social workers on SOGIGESC topics and occasionally those who work in the school system. GENDERDOC-M also provides information to victims of bullying.

Local authorities and school districts do not provide support and relief services for bullying by funding civil society organisations.

Information and Guidelines

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Anti-LGBTQI Measures

Policies prohibiting the presence of LGBTQI-related information are in place: -5/10 | Schools are not required to adopt inclusive education guidelines: 0/10 | Information or guidelines for LGBTQI inclusion adopted by schools that mention one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

No relevant guidelines are in place for teachers or LGBTQI learners.

Schools do not promote information on SOGIGESC issues and are not required to have anti- LGBTQI bullying guidelines in place. GENDERDOC-M provides information on SOGIGESC issues generally, and has published a toolkit for teachers, but without any state funding.

International Commitments

/10

Member of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network

Ratified the UNESCO Ministerial Call to Action

Neither Member in the EFPN or ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 0/10 | Member of the EFPN or ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 5/10 | Member of the EFPN and ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 10/10

Moldova has ratified seven of the nine core UN treaties, including the ICESCR and the CRC, which enshrine the right to education. Moldova is a member of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network (as of November 2020), and has signed the 2016 UNESCO Call for Action.

View the map scored by indicator

Grounds of discrimination

Here is the country's score for each ground of discrimination on which we based our observations for 8 of the 10 indicators presented above.

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

See the map scored by ground of discrimination

Country score evolution

2025

17.5

/100

2022

/100

2018

/100

To enable a meaningful comparison of country progress over time, we have retroactively aligned the scoring systems used in the 2018 and 2022 Editions of IGLYO’s LGBTQI Inclusive Education Index with the updated 2025 scoring criteria. While each edition of the research has built on the previous one, reflecting evolving standards and priorities in inclusive education, minor changes to indicators and scoring weights were introduced in 2022 and 2025 to improve clarity, consistency, and comprehensiveness.
‍
By recalculating the earlier scores according to the 2025 framework, we have tried to ensure comparability across all three editions and provide a more accurate picture of progress, stagnation, or regression in each country’s approach to LGBTQI-inclusive education. For this reason, you might find some scores in the PDF Report & Index 2018 and 2022 differing from those on the Education website for these two years.

Good practices

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