Minister Grlić Radman participates in CSW65

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday participated in the general discussion of the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday participated in the general discussion of the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Themes included women’s participation in politics and public life, as well as the elimination of violence, with the aim of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

CSW Chair Mher Margaryan delivered the keynote address, followed by remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, ECOSOC President Munir Akram, UNGA President Volkan Bozkir, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, CEDAW Committee Chair Gladys Acosta Vargas, and UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women Dubravka Šimonović. Remarks were also delivered by civil society representative Virisila Buadromo and youth representative Renata Koch Alvarenga.

“Despite all the efforts, women are still in an unfavourable position. They are still exposed to various forms of violence and underrepresented on all levels. They face additional obstacles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, losing their jobs on a larger scale than men,” Grlić Radman said, adding that gender equality should be achieved through laws and policies aimed at eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls at all levels.

The minister underscored that more and more women are joining the political arena in Croatia – there was 31% of women MPs in 2020, they make one fifth of the government and 41% of Croatian MEPs.

“Thanks to the National Action Plan on the implementation UNSCR 1325, there is now more than 40% of women in the defence sector, police and intelligence agencies, and more than 60% in Croatian diplomacy. By amending the national legislature, we have improved prevention, increased penalties and strengthened the protection of domestic violence victims. The government has recently allocated EUR 9.2 million for setting up six new women’s shelters,” Grlić Radman said.

 

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