The Gender Equality Ombudsperson monitors the implementation of the Gender Equality Law, effective on July 30, 2003 (The Official Gazette 116/03), and all other gender equality-related regulations. The Gender Equality Law (hereinafter: GEL) defines protection against discrimination on the grounds of gender and equal opportunity mechanisms for women and men.

The Official Report on the work of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson is an annual report submitted to the Croatian Parliament by March 31 of the current year, in accordance with Article 21, para. 1 of the Gender Equality Law and Article 18 of the Rules of Procedure of the Office of Gender Equality Ombudsperson (The Official Gazette 29/04). It presents, describes and analyzes all activities carried out by the Office of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson during the reporting year, as well as their outcomes and results.

You can obtain the Annual Report for 2005 here (PDF 1.2MB)  

CONCLUSION AND FINAL REMARKS

The report of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson for 2005 shows that the Gender Equality Law is not being adequately implemented.

Although in 2005 all ministries appointed special coordinators for gender equality, who are, in accordance with the authority of the state administration body they work in, responsible for the implementation of this Law, most of them did not adopt plans of action prescribed in Article 11 of the GEL during this reporting period, even after the expiration of the deadline and in spite of several warnings sent by the Gender Equality Ombudsperson. The Gender Equality Ombudsperson believes that all ministries have an impact on the creation of national policies, including the policy of gender equality, from the Ministry of Finances, which determines this policy by preparing guidelines for state budget, to the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, which influences this policy by approving school textbooks.

Not only ministries, but all state bodies, legal entities with public authority, and legal entities predominantly owned by the state and units of local and regional government are obliged to develop plans of action on the basis of an analysis of the position of women and men and determine reasons for introducing special measures, goals that should be achieved, and ways to implement and monitor them.

As these obligations were not entirely met, it is not likely that legal entities will comply with their obligation stipulated by Article 3 of the GEL, that is, implementation of gender-sensitive policy or gender-mainstreaming. According to this provision, these bodies are, in all stages of planning, adopting and implementing decisions or actions, obliged to evaluate their effects on the position of women and men, with the aim of achieving true equality of women and men. The report of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson shows that this provision was not implemented consistently in this reporting period.

If this inconsistent implementation and disregard for gender-sensitive policy continues, the last assessment of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination of Women will prove correct. This evaluation was given in the conclusive remarks for Croatia, after the Committee considered the 2nd and 3rd periodical report on the implementation of the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination against Women on January 18, 2005: "The Committee expresses concern about the serious disadvantages women face in the labor market, as reflected in women’s high unemployment rate, the persistence of strong vertical and horizontal segregation, wage differentials between women and men and the predominance of women in low-wage sectors. The Committee expresses its particular concern about the situation of women older than 40 years as well as the discriminatory treatment of pregnant women in the labor market. The Committee is also concerned that insufficient attention is being given to policies supporting the sharing of work and family responsibilities between women and men."

The report of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson for 2005 confirms this evaluation.

The results of 2005 local elections also show no significant shifts in the political participation of women, which is one of the essential preconditions of true democracy.

Improvements are visible in the prevention of violence in the family, especially owing to the efforts of the Ministry of Family, Veterans' Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The legal provision on the need to collect all statistical data according to gender is complied with by the State Institute for Statistics, but not by other state bodies or public services that collect, document and process statistical data and information.
 
An increased number of complaints submitted to the Gender Equality Ombudsperson shows a higher level of awareness about the institution and Gender Equality Law, but is also an indicator that the citizens' rights on the basis of gender are being violated in all spheres of life, especially in the field of work and employment and protection from violence in the family.

The Gender Equality Ombudsperson believes that one of the reasons for the increase in the number of complaints related to work and employment is the cooperation between the Office of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson and the Women's Section of the Association of Independent Unions of Croatia, which will continue in 2006 as well.

The number of complaints submitted by men has increased as well, especially of those related to parental care.

The Gender Equality Ombudsperson believes it is necessary to strongly promote the rights of women members of national minorities, rural and disabled women.
It is also essential to promote the rights of sexual minorities, especially through legislative changes.

The National Policy for the Promotion of Gender Equality in the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010 was not adopted by the end of this reporting period, which will have a negative effect on the achievement of equal opportunities for women and men in 2006.
 
The Gender Equality Ombudsperson proposes to the Croatian Parliament to approve the Annual Report of the Work of the Gender Equality Ombudsperson for 2005.  

GENDER EQUALITY OMBUDSPERSON

Gordana Lukač Koritnik