B.a.B.e. up-date (January-April, 1997)

Dear Members and Friends,

This is the second issue of what we hope to become the regular brief news up-date from B.a.B.e. and our activities. We can certainly say that the first four months of the year have been exciting. The year had an arduous start with the activities around the media monitoring. Then came the law proposal from the Croatian right wing party HSP (Croatian Party of Right) which aimed to limit women's reproductive rights rendering the option of abortion non-existent. We have been actively engaged in roundtable discussion on the issue, and have arranged a press conference. By the end of April we received news that fortunately HSP has withdrawn the proposal.

And then the elections: For the second time we have gathered the Women's Ad Hoc Coalition to monitor and influence the elections. 18 women's groups from all over the country joined in lobbying for women's issues and increased women participation. We arranged a seminar to develop the Ad Hoc Platform and to form a strategy for the Coalition. Posters, badges, leaflets and a TV advertisement was produced to promote our activities. With great enthusiasm the groups around the country posted posters and arranged press conferences and roundtable discussions. The young anarchists in Zagreb assisted in beautifying Zagreb with our "51%" posters. Mali Losinj was close to getting a candidate into the city council with the women's list. Next time we'll make it!

Elections '97!


For the second time B.a.B.e. has initiated and coordinated an Ad Hoc Coalition of Croatian women's groups for monitoring and influencing the elections in Croatia. Following the success of the 1995 Women's Ad Hoc Coalition, we have renewed the Coalition for the 1997 elections (April 13) for the local authorities and regional house of the Parliament.

We organized a seminar for forming the Coalition and deciding on a women's program and platform. 29 women from 17 women's groups have participated at the seminar (Zagreb, February 7-9). The Coalition has broadened to 18 women's groups from all around Croatia.

The Coalition addresses questions of vital interest to women in Croatia, such as: keeping abortion in Croatia safe, legal and accessible; establishment of social programs for single mothers and other women's populations at risk, (minority women e.g.); increased participation of women in political decision making bodies; women's right to work; establishment of a national machinery against discrimination of women in labor market; establishment of national programs against violence against women (laws, police education, shelters and therapy for violated women); education for more human relations among genders and against violence, sexual education in schools.

The Coalition has produced a poster, leaflets and badges with the Coalition's logo "51%" (the female population in Croatia is 51,5 %). The badges say "I exchange one corner of the house for a seat in the Parliament!" which refers to the Croatian proverb which says that a woman keeps three corners of the house (read: a woman's place and power is in the home.)

Women's groups from the Ad Hoc Coalition have organized a number of activities locally and nationally, such as public hearings, press conferences, women's lists, street activities, round tables, lobbying, media work, distribution of visual materials such as posters, stickers, badges. The promotion materials have been distributed around the country and a TV advertisement has been produced and aired at Croatian Television (HTV) several times.

Some political parties have responded to the demands from the Ad Hoc Coalition: ASH (Action for Social Democrats in Croatia) adopted in 1995 the entire Coalition Platform; SDP (Social Democratic Party of Croatia) has put stronger emphasis on women and women's issues in their party program, and; HSS (Croatian Rural Party) has adopted four points of the Coalition's platform to their party program:

  1. increased participation of women in political decision making bodies
  2. women's right to work
  3. establishment of social programs for single mothers and other women's populations at risk
  4. establishment of national programs against violence against women.

Members of the 1997 Women's Ad Hoc Coalition are:

Ariadna, Rijeka; Autonomous Women's House, Zagreb; B.a.B.e., Women's Human Rights Group, Zagreb; Center for Women War Victims, Zagreb; Center for Women Studies, Zagreb; Dalmatian Committee for the Affirmation of Women, Split; Electra, Zagreb; Rosa House, Zagreb; SOS Telephone for Women Victims of Violence, Zagreb; Women of Anti War Campaign Croatia, Zagreb; Women's Group of the Center for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights, Osijek; Women's Group, Losinj; Women's Group, Pakrac; Women's Group, Porec; Women's Group, Split; Women's Information and Documentation Center, Zagreb; Women's Peace Workshop- Suncokret, Rijeka; Workshop "Open Door", Split.

Education on Women's Human Rights


On April 11-13, a team from B.a.B.e. went to Bihac, Bosnia, to undertake a workshop with 18 participants from both entities of Bosnia (the Bosnian Federation and Republika Srpska). For many of the participants it was the first time outside of the war zone and their first chance after the war to communicate with women from other parts of Bosnia. Most of the women were not acquainted with women's rights issues, but were eager to learn of their strengths and opportunities. Another workshop is scheduled for Bosnia at the end of May.

At the end of April, members of B.a.B.e. organized a one-day workshop on women's human rights for 'Hope 21', a group of young human rights activists in Zagreb.

Women and Media


The project group has carried out its first intensive systematic monitoring of "women in the news". In collaboration with other women's groups around Croatia, a full day monitoring was arranged with recording news broadcasts in radio and TV from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on January 18, 1997 in Zagreb, Karlovac, Osijek, Split, and Rijeka. We will systematize the materials and the results of the research, and publish the outcome in information booklets and reports which will be distributed to the public, women's groups and media professionals. The Canadian organization MediaWatch has conducted a similar research on a global basis, which makes our research eligible as comparative study which will indicate how Croatia corresponds to international patterns.

Legal Status of Women


As follow-up to our workshop in Macedonia in December last year, Jagoda G., lawyer from Kumanovo, Macedonia was in February invited to Zagreb for a five day study visit to B.a.B.e. to exchange information on changes that affect women in Croatian and Macedonian legal systems and to learn more from each others. She held a lecture on the Macedonian legal system which provided us with useful information as Macedonian laws pertinent to women are well developed and progressive compared to Croatian laws.

The legal monitoring team "Monitorina" has completed analyzing of the new draft of Family law, Labor Law, Laws on Social security, and will continue analyzing new drafts of other laws pertaining to women, such as the Penalty Law and Laws on reproductive rights and other laws that will be changed. The package of laws on reproductive rights is expected in May. B.a.B.e. has submitted an appeal to the Croatian Constitutional Court on women's rights to full pay during maternity leave. The Croatian government has suggested that the pay be reduced to 1.500 Kn. per month (app. 283 DEM) regardless of monthly income before the pregnancy occurred. According to the current law all women on maternity leave have the right to payment of full salary for twelve months.

Rights of Women Refugees, Migrants and Asylum SeekersB.a.B.e. organized a workshop on the rights of refugee women on January 31 - February 1. 12 women from different regions of Croatia working with refugees and human rights work participated in the workshop. The workshop included introduction to the major international documents that Croatia has ratified, and ways Croatia fail to fulfill its commitment towards refugees, and refugee women in particular. Croatia itself does not have any laws or separate right pertaining to refugees.

A folder on their rights has been produced and disseminated to groups around the country that are working with refugees. The folder contains information on options, rights and procedures available to refugees and asylum seekers according to Croatian law and international standards.

8. March


The 8. March celebrations in Zagreb was done in an unusual form this year. The Women's Art and Media project Electra, Zagreb, organized a "Women's Room" over two days with exciting activities, such as: media literacy and camera training, workshops on women's issues, musical events and creative work. Great initiative!

Vesna K. was in January invited to California to participate in a conference called "Frontline Feminism - Women & War Resistance". She took part in panel discussions on how feminists formulate questions about international conflicts and the political responses they propose.

Gordana L. was in March in Switzerland participating at the UN Commission on Human Rights. She was invited by the British organization Change. She took part in workshops which introduced the basic UN mechanisms for the protection of human rights.

Cathrine M. was in March in Budapest where she participated at a seminar on gender communications, organized by EYFA. The seminar aimed to initiate a dialogue on gender issues among young people in Europe.

Martina B. is part of the trainer team of MiraMida, an ongoing series of trainings for activists on civil society, human rights and conflict transformation. In November, 1996, in Darda (UNTAES zone) and in March, 1997, in Tuzla (BiH) Martina has undertaken trainings on women's issues for activists from the region.

B.a.B.e. members participated in April at a networking meeting among women's groups in Croatia organized by the Porec women's group. The meeting aimed to strengthen the communications between women's groups and to develop new ways of cooperation.

B.a.B.e., as part of the AntiWar Campaign's (ARK) network of peace and human rights groups in Croatia, participated at the ARK annual general assembly in Istria in April.

B.a.B.e. has translated and produced a number of reports and materials that might be of interest. Please contact our office if you would like to obtain a copy of the following (most of the materials are available on both Croatian and English languages):

B.a.B.e. is a strategic group located in Zagreb, Croatia, working for the affirmation and implementation of women's human rights. We believe that the advancement of women is impossible unless and until their equal rights are fully protected.

For more information on membership and our activities, please contact: B.a.B.e. (Be active, Be emancipated), Women's Human Rights Group
Prilaz Gjure Dezelica 26/II, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel/Fax: +385 1 4846176
Tel: +385 1 4846 180
e-mail: babe@zamir.net

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