STATEMENT
by
Ambassador Mirjana Mladineo
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia
General Assembly
Sixtieth Session
Third Committee
Item 64: Advancement of Women
Item 65: Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”
United Nations
14 October 2005
Mr. Chairperson,
Croatia has aligned itself with the statement made by the United Kingdom on behalf of the EU, but I would like to add a few points based on Croatia’s specific experience on the matter.
At the outset, allow me, on behalf of my delegation, to thank the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Ms. Rachel Mayanja, for her perceptive statement and a broad overview of the global context and work of the United Nations to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.
In this regard, the delegation of the Republic of Croatia welcomes the efforts of the United Nations in building and reinforcing strategies and activities for a more effective and efficient implementation of the commitments made at Beijing and five years later at the Special Session of the General Assembly.
Croatia fully supports the elaboration of the Secretary General’s Study on violence against women which aims at: highlighting the persistence of all forms of violence against women in all parts of the world, and the unacceptability of such violence; strengthening political commitments and joint efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eliminate violence against women; and identifying ways and means for better and more sustained and effective implementation of Government commitments and obligations to combat all forms of violence against women, as well as increasing accountability.
The Government of the Republic of Croatia has shown continuity and good will, as well as concrete steps for the implementation of Croatia’s commitments and obligations related to women’s rights and gender equality.
Mr. Chairperson,
The Republic of Croatia as a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, presented in January 2005 its Second and Third Periodic Reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee). The full implementation of the CEDAW Convention, Committee’s Concluding comments for Croatia, the Beijing Platform of Action, and the Millennium Development Goals will be pursued by the Government in its new National Policy for the Promotion of Gender Equality 2006-2010 which is currently being prepared.
Croatia fully supports the CEDAW Committee’s request for extension of its meeting time in order to enable it to efficiently execute its mandate.
In the past few years, Croatia has adopted a significant number of laws in this field, starting from the amendments to Article 3 of the Constitution, whereby the principle of gender equality was recognized as one of the highest values of the constitutional order and as one of the bases for interpretation of the Constitution.
The Gender Equality Law of 2003 largely follows the provisions of the CEDAW Convention. It protects women against discrimination and establishes a policy of equal opportunities for women and men. Under the Gender Equality Law, the Parliament of Croatia appointed its first ever Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, established the Governmental Office for Gender Equality as well as coordinators for gender equality in all ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. Also, Gender Equality Commissions were established on the local level throughout Croatia.
Mr. Chairperson,
In 2003, the Law on the Protection against Domestic Violence and the Law on the Same Sex Unions were adopted. In addition to that, the Labor Act (norms on sexual harassment) and the Criminal Code (penalization of trafficking in persons) were amended, with further regulations designed to improve the position of women in the Croatian society.
Regarding the issue of domestic violence, it must be stressed that the Government adopted the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence for the period 2005-2007, and declared September 22nd the National Day for Campaigning against Violence against Women. Also, last month the Government adopted a Protocol on Procedure in Cases of Domestic Violence. The purpose of this Protocol is to ensure conditions for effective and comprehensive functioning of the competent authorities and to provide help for both victims of domestic violence, and the perpetrators of domestic violence and to change the system of traditional values with the aim of non violent conflict resolution and respect for gender equality.
Furthermore, a number of measures were taken to avoid and suppress discrimination of women in the labor market, the most notable of which are projects aimed at economic empowerment and incentives for women entrepreneurs.
Freedom of work and free choice to choose one’s occupation and job are granted by the Constitution, and the Labor Law prohibits unequal treatment of job seekers and employees on the basis of gender, marital status and family obligations. Also, it stipulates that men and women should be paid equally for work of equal value. Equal pay is de facto implemented, but the challenge is in the fact that there is a higher concentration of women in low-paying sectors.
Mr. Chairperson,
In Croatia today 20 per cent of the members of the Croatian Parliament, and 33 per cent of ministers in the Government are women (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Family, Veterans'' Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Minister of Justice, Minister of Environmental Protection). The Law on Political Parties contains a positive action measure, according to which parties are allocated 10 per cent more funds for each representative of the under-represented gender.
Allow me to conclude by stressing that promoting women’s rights and gender equality has and will continue to remain high on the agenda since we must be prepared for the lengthy task ahead of us of fulfilling the commitments made by our governments, with a view to making a real difference in women’s lives.
Thank you.
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