Women's Network Croatia and women MPs from several political parties on Thursday called for the adoption of the National Gender Equality Policy, the main strategic document for the protection of women's rights that would ensure the full equality of women.

“Croatia is entering the seventh year without a main strategic document for the protection of women’s human rights. This is concerning and we, women from civil society and politics, have decided to draw attention to it on this day,” Sanja Juras of the Women’s Network told a press conference marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Women MPs appealed to the government to finally send the comprehensive strategy for gender equality to Parliament to change the status of women in Croatian society.

“We differ in many ways, but we agree that the Croatian laws must be respected and that it is unacceptable that the government has failed to adopt the strategic document on gender equality over the last seven years,” said the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Sabina Glasovac (Social Democratic Party).

The chair of the Gender Equality Committee, Marija Selak-Raspudic (Most party group), said that the budget item intended for the gender equality strategy had been reduced in the amended budget, and her amendment, proposing that the money be restored, had been rejected.

The chair of the Gender Equality Commission of the Zagreb City Assembly, Rada Boric (New Left party), warned that different local plans and strategies had nothing to rely on without the key national document.

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