On the occasion of International Women's Days, the Women's Network of Croatia held a protest rally outside Government House on Saturday, demanding the right to a safe, accessible and free pregnancy termination in all hospitals.

A dozen women protesters arrived in St. Mark’s Square carrying banners with banners reading “Master of her own body”, “Free anaesthesia”, “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.

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