ZAGREB, March 14, 2019 - The danger of violence against women is omnipresent and is not decreasing, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said in New York on Wednesday, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the mandate of the Special UN Rapporteur on Violence against Women, wishing Special Rapporteur Dubravka Šimonović a lot of success and a fruitful continuation of her work on improving the status of women.

Speaking of the danger of violence against women, Grabar-Kitarović said that the topics that were discussed pointed not only to the size of the problem but also to the importance of raising awareness of the problem in order to deal with it, her office said in a statement.

In that regard, Grabar-Kitarović mentioned the Femicide Watch Initiative and other important initiatives and projects by the Special Rapporteur, such as cooperation between global and regional mechanisms for women's rights, as well as efforts aimed at stopping violence against women in politics.

The president stressed that Croatia was proud that the Croat Dubravka Šimonović was the current Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women.

Croatia supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and the Special Rapporteur herself. I admire and deeply respect your work because this is a particularly difficult matter that affects the very core of our values and beliefs, said Grabar-Kitarović.

More news about the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 9, 2019 - As part of the European project, Building more effective protection: transforming the system for combating violence against women, the ombudsman's office for gender equality on Friday released a media ethics code with guidelines on raising awareness when reporting about violence against women and femicide, and the document was accepted by 12 local and national media outlets on the occasion of International Women's Day.

As part of the 500,000 euro project, the ombudsman's office and Women's Room - Centre for Sexual Rights, conducted a survey on the way media outlets report about violence against women in Croatia and the media code was formulated based on the findings of that research.

"We wanted to see how media outlets reported about and how they perceived domestic violence and violence against women and how they reported about femicide and women who are killed by someone close to them," Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić said.

The survey of media outlets covered articles on web portals and in daily newspapers in the period between 2012 and 2016. The results showed that the media often disclosed the identity of the victims, speculated on the perpetrators' motives and downplayed violence, describing it as "excessive" love by the perpetrator for their victim or that fun went too far, suggesting that the victim is somehow responsible, which is a violation of the code of ethics of journalism.

The basic guidelines recommend clear condemnation of violence in the media. The code recommends that the perpetrator be put in correlation to the perpetrator of an offence or criminal act, and that the victim should in no way be considered to be co-responsible nor should their private life be brought into question, particularly in cases of sexual violence.

The code also recommends that the victim's identity should not be disclosed because this just additionally stigmatises them.

Ljubičić underscored that one of the guidelines recommends that reports on violence against women should be put in the context of gender-based violence. "According to data from the Interior Ministry, of the total number of domestic violence offences in 2018, in 78% of the cases, men were the perpetrators and in 22% they were women," she said.

The same data indicates that last year in 3,198 criminal offences with elements of violence committed by someone close to the victim, 76% of the victims were women and 24% men and that of the 2,100 perpetrators of criminal offences among close persons, 91% were men and 9% women.

Ljubičić underscored that this is gender-based violence in fact because of the disproportion of women victims.

The national police director Nikola Milina said that in over 70% of femicide, perpetrators do not try to disguise the crime, and most frequent motives are jealousy, dysfunctional family relations and mental diseases of perpetrators.

More news about the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 8, 2019 - On the occasion of International Women's Day, members of the Women's Network Croatia staged a protest outside Government House, demanding the right to a safe, accessible and free abortion in all hospitals.

A dozen women protesters arrived at St. Mark's Square carrying banners with messages such as "Master of her own body", "Free anesthesia", "Accessible and free abortion in all hospitals", saying that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and that the Church must not interfere in that right. The protesters then handed in a list with their demands to government officials.

"In a secular state the Church cannot interfere in the woman's right to decide whether or not to have children. Women in our country must not and do not want to be incubators that will have children on command," said Neva Tolle of the Autonomous Women's House and the Women's Network Croatia.

"The woman is the one to decide about her own body, she knows whether she can afford to have a child, you cannot tell her to live in "premarital purity' because that, too, is a matter of personal choice," Tolle said, stressing that women must not be called murderers and calling on the government to define, as soon as possible, a new pregnancy termination law that would be more liberal than the existing one.

She also said that the Women's Network would submit its own bill on pregnancy termination.

Tolle condemned a statement made by Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, who reportedly told a woman reporter that she should pray as prayer never hurt anyone, calling on him to step down.

Tolle also said that there must be no conscientious objectors in hospitals that were funded with taxpayers' money, mentioning as a positive example the University Hospital Centre Rijeka, which, she claimed, did not hire gynaecologists who were conscientious objectors.

More news on the abortion issue in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 8, 2019 - International Women's Day, observed on 8 March worldwide, was marked in in Croatia on Friday, with senior officials, including President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, extending messages of congratulations, and various events highlighting the status of women in society.

Police in the coastal city of Šibenik were presenting roses to female drivers on Friday morning.

From 7 to 10 Mach, 30 cinemas in 27 cities and towns across the country are screening films about possibilities for change from the feminist perspective.

The feminist collective fAKTIV organises "The Night March - 8 March" under the slogan "Vociferous and Feisty" in Zagreb, Rijeka and Pula on Friday evening.

On Thursday, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said in her speech in the European Parliament that women and girls should have faith in themselves and fight for their rights.

"My message to women and girls is – have faith and believe in yourselves – in your value, your strength, your knowledge and your capabilities. Stand up for yourself and never give up. There is more and more of us each day, both women and men, who will support you. Your determination will make all remaining obstacles fall," the Croatian president said in her address to the EP on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Also on Thursday, Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland commended Croatia for ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

When it comes to women's involvement in education in Croatia, the proportion of women among undergraduate students is 56.7%, and as many as three fifths (60%) of graduates are women. In addition, 55% of those with a doctoral degree in 2016 were women, according to figures provided by the national statistical office.

The average gender pay gap in the EU is 16-17% while in Croatia it ranges between 8% and 10%, Labour and Pension System Minister Marko Pavić said recently.

The opposition SDP party considers under-representation of women in politics to be a symptom of an unhealthy democracy and a crisis of political representation.

Currently, every fifth lawmaker in the Croatian parliament is a woman. None of the present county prefects is a woman, and the number of female county deputy prefects has increased by 7 percent from 2013. In 2017, of the total of 555 mayors, only 50, or 9 percent, were women.

The Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) and the Deloitte consulting company on Thursday published results of their survey called "Women in the Business World" which showed that it is still more difficult for women to get a promotion, nevertheless, the number of women in managing positions was growing slowly but steadily. The survey was conducted over the last three months of 2018 on a sample of 186 respondents in managing positions, of whom 117 are women.

More news about the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 8, 2019 - The under-representation of women in politics is considered a symptom of an unhealthy democracy and a crisis of political representation, a round table on women's equality in politics and society, organised by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was told in Zagreb on Thursday.

In the 1980s, the last decade of the socialist system in Croatia, the proportion of women in parliament ranged between 13 and 17 percent. In the early 1990s, their share dropped to between four and seven percent as a result of the retraditionalisation of society, the head of the SDP Women's Forum, Maja Sporiš, said at the round table, organised ahead of International Women's Day which is observed on March 8.

The proportion of women in the Croatian parliament increased again following the 2000 election, reaching between 18 and 21 percent and staying at that level over the next 15 years. In 2015, their proportion fell to 15 percent and in 2016 to 12.5 percent.

Sporiš said that the present share of 20 percent was the result of male candidates withdrawing to take government positions and women, positioned at the bottom of election slates, moving up to fill their positions in parliament.

She noted that European average of women's representation in national parliaments was 28 percent and the global average was slightly over 23 percent.

Sporiš said that, compared with 2013, the number of female municipal councillors increased the most, by over 10 percent, the number of female town councillors rose by 4 percent and that of county councillors by about 6 percent. None of the present county prefects is a woman, and the number of female county deputy prefects has increased by 7 percent from 2013.

In 2017, of the total of 555 mayors, only 50, or 9 percent, were women.

More news on the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 7, 2019 - Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland said on the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, that vital goals were being achieved to end violence against women but that more progress was needed. In that context, he commended Croatia for ratifying the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

"The Istanbul Convention requires criminalising and legally sanctioning different forms of violence against women, including domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment and psychological violence," Jagland said but noted that despite the progress, there were still problems concerning its ratification in some countries.

"In some cases, such as Bulgaria, ratification has been blocked due to concerns and misconceptions over the term 'gender'. However, I believe such misinterpretations can be clarified if the correct information is duly provided and there is the political will to do so, for example in Croatia, which ratified the Istanbul Convention in June last year," said Jagland.

"Azerbaijan and Russia still have not signed our treaty. And 11 Council of Europe member states – Armenia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Hungary, Moldova, the Slovak Republic, Ukraine and the UK – have signed, but not yet ratified," Jagland said, noting that monitoring the countries that have ratified the convention was important for ensuring compliance with its guidelines.

"Our Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) regularly goes on location to research how member states live up to convention requirements. Through GREVIO, we reinforce both cooperation with member states and identify areas for improvement.

"Earlier this year for example, GREVIO recognised progress in a report published about Portugal, which has developed comprehensive policies and preventive measures, especially to promote gender equality and combat gender stereotypes. In Sweden, GREVIO highlighted numerous legislative and policy measures adopted over the past 40 years that clearly demonstrate this member state's commitment to prevent and combat violence against women," the Council of Europe head said but noted that despite the progress, there was no room for complacency.

"We must continue to fight for ratification in all Council of Europe member states because women and girls cannot be deprived of their most basic human right: a life free from violence," he said, urging all member states to ratify without delay the Istanbul Convention.

More news on the Istanbul Convention ratification can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 6, 2019 - The most frequent obstacle on the labour market in Croatia concerns discrimination against women based on age and motherhood, women account for 58% of the unemployed persons, 62% of men are aware that their status at work is more privileged than that of women, while in terms of the pay gap, Croatia is above the EU average, it was said at a conference on gender equality at work in Zagreb on Wednesday.

"When we consider the overall situation in Croatia, we can say that we are better than the EU average with regard to the employment of women and the gender pay gap. The average gender pay gap in the EU is 16-17% while in Croatia it ranges between 8 and 10%," Labour and Pension System Minister Marko Pavić said at the conference, organised by IKEA and the European Parliament Office in Croatia.

The Labour and Pension System Ministry has 14 billion kuna at its disposal from the European Social Fund and the ministry's biggest project is a project for the employment of women.

So far, 6,000 women with an unfavourable labour market status have found employment as part of the ministry programme "Make a wish". Significant funds have also been invested in supporting a directive on work-life balance, said Pavić.

Swedish Ambassador Diana Helen Madunić said that the Swedish government, together with Swedish companies, had defined a policy of promoting sustainable business and gender equality which, among other things, also refers to a gender balance on management boards and a balanced parental leave for women and men.

We believe that sustainability and gender equality are key to business success. Women account for 50% of the world's population and we have to involve them and use their resources and abilities to create successful business for the future, said Madunić.

Croatian Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić said the majority of complaints her office received referred to gender discrimination and that more than two in three women who approached the office complained about gender discrimination.

"The obstacles they report primarily concern the labour market, 45-60% of the complaints refer to that. The most frequent obstacle women encounter on the labour market is discrimination based on age and motherhood," Ljubičić said.

More news on the status of women in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, February 25, 2019 - After the Roda nongovernmental organisation in November 2018 reported violations of women's reproductive rights to UN human rights bodies, based on testimonies collected in a campaign focusing on women's negative hospital treatment experiences, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights asked Croatia to urgently take action to prevent violation of women's sexual and reproductive rights.

"We are appalled by the testimonies given by women, following the launch of the campaign #BreakTheSilence in October 2018, which showed a pattern of abuse and violence against women undertaking medical procedures related to their reproductive health,” reads a statement by a group of experts released on the website of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights.

Noting that the violence ranged from surgical treatments carried out without anaesthesia to humiliation, verbal abuse and the refusal to give painkilling medication, the experts say that Croatia should adopt measures to prevent violence and insist on the accountability of those who commit it.

"We are deeply concerned about women being subjected to painful treatments without anaesthesia, including surgical miscarriage procedures, uterine scrapes, removal of placenta, stitching after birth, episiotomies being conducted against their will and disrespectful treatment of women by health personnel," the experts stress.

They note that in spite of the testimonies, some politicians and heads of health institutions have denied the allegations, questioning the credibility of the women’s stories and their perception of pain. At times, even women’s intelligence was questioned.

“A woman who is receiving reproductive health care, including giving birth, accessing medically assisted reproduction services and undergoing surgical miscarriage procedures, must have her rights respected.

“Health personnel should apply the highest standards of professionalism and ethical codes in delivering reproductive health care, and they must respect the dignity, privacy, autonomy, integrity and security of women,” the experts emphasize.

“We encourage the Government of Croatia to conduct an independent investigation into those allegations, to publish its results and to elaborate a national action plan for women’s health,” the experts conclude.

During the campaign BreakTheSilence, in only two and a half days, activists collected more than 400 testimonies of women who have experienced some kind of violence and abuse in Croatian hospitals during gynaecological procedures.

More news about women’s issues can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Women's Forum said on Saturday that member of parliament Ines Strenja Linić of the MOST party engaged in discrimination of women by saying that young girls who start drinking early in life were certain to experience unwanted pregnancy.

Alcohol consumption is one of the many serious problems affecting young people in Croatia, but to single out girls in that context is discriminatory, the SDP Women's Forum said in a comment on the statement Strenja Linić made during a parliamentary debate on Friday.

The statement contains the stereotype that young women are the only ones responsible for risky sexual behaviour when drinking alcohol, the SDP Women's Forum said.

"Children urgently need quality, scientifically based and comprehensive education about the importance of gender equality, health protection, sexuality, various types of addiction... Considering the frequency of inappropriate statements coming from people in important and responsible positions who influence public opinion in many ways, a large number of adults, too, could benefit from such education," the SDP Women's Forum said.

More news on the status of women in Croatia and the debates surrounding this issue led among the political parties can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 13, 2019 - The Croatian government should withdraw its reservations on the Istanbul Convention's articles regulating civil lawsuits, remedies and compensation for victims so that the document does not remain a dead letter, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Women's Forum said on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference, they said they were asking a key question: Is there political will that the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, which Croatia ratified, should not remain a dead letter?

Forum president Maja Sporiš said perpetrators were not the only ones responsible for the violence because the state was responsible too. She said the government opted to put a reservation on the Convention's articles 29 and 30 which regulated civil lawsuits, remedies and compensation for victims.

Sporiš recalled that Article 30 states that "adequate state compensation shall be awarded to those who have sustained serious bodily injury or impairment of health, to the extent that the damage is not covered by other sources such as the perpetrator, insurance or State‐funded health and social provisions. This does not preclude Parties from claiming regress for compensation awarded from the perpetrator, as long as due regard is paid to the victim’s safety."

Sporiš recalled that victims were entitled to compensation also under Croatia's 2013 law on monetary compensation for victims of crimes. She said the only data available showed that 44,000 kuna was paid by the end of 2015, without specifying to whom. She wondered if victims were even aware of such options.

Danijela Vukoša, president of the Forum's Zadar branch, said statistics showed that one in five perpetrators was punished and only 7% were sent to prison.

Between 2010 and 2017, 156 women were killed in Croatia, including 114 by husbands, partners, former husbands or partners, or close persons. Eighteen women were killed in 2018 alone, Vukoša said, adding that femicide accounts for 25-30% of all murders in the country and that 47% of perpetrators have a history of violence.

SDP Presidency member Ivana Posavac Krivec said funding for safe houses was insufficient and that victims were at the mercy of local governments, which set aside between 0.01 and 0.16% of their budgets for safe houses. She said it was also necessary to open more safe houses, describing the situation as alarming, and accused counties of being unable to withdraw European funds.

More news on the Istanbul Convention implementation in Croatia can be found in our Politics section.