While most of us mark International Women’s Day as a perfect opportunity for hanging out with our girlfriends, calling and visiting our mums, grandmothers and other female relatives, I noticed many forget what this day is all about. On March 8th, we are surrounded by all kinds of discounts, special offers and women-inspired events such as female lineups and concerts in clubs and bars. This day became a celebration for and of women, but let’s not forget it’s about a fight for women’s rights, which is still, in Croatia and abroad, still ongoing on so many levels.
As a Croatian platform led by women, we must point out the horrific facts and statistics that are a Croatian reality, tackling so many aspects of women’s life. From primary medical (gynecological) care, work opportunities and discrimination, radical right-wing patriarchy oriented male groups to domestic violence and femicides – the numbers are on the rise.
According to a recent report by the most popular employment platform in Croatia Moj posao (eng: My job), women’s salaries are 14% lower than men’s for the same positions, while over 36% of women experienced sexual harassment in a workplace.
Over 300.000 women do not have their primary gynecological health care while over 60% of gynecologists declare conscientious objection and refuse to do abortions, even though it is women’s legal right. While women are being shamed and guilt-tripped, struggling with probably the most difficult life decision, radical ‘faith’ groups are camping in front of the hospitals that perform abortions with pictures of fetuses and, as they say, praying for their life. The first Saturdays each month are reserved for ‘the kneelers‘ – a group of men gathering on the main squares that kneel and pray for women’s chastity and maintenance of their authoritarian role in a Christian marriage.
Over the past 4 years, there have been over 60 femicides, while domestic violence and sexual harassment, including minors, are not being prosecuted, leaving the victims in constant fear for their lives.
Considering these horrible facts, women in Croatia are organising protests in seven cities: Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Rijeka, Pula, Šibenik and Karlovac, here are the details:
Zagreb – Croatian National Theatre, 18:00
Rijeka – Delta, 18:30
Osijek – Ante Starčević Square, 18:30
Split – Croatian National Theatre, 11:00
Pula – Portarata, 18:00
Šibenik – in front of MO’A TI studio, 18:30
Karlovac – Music pavillion, 18:00
This afternoon is an opportunity to show up at these protests, judge less and have each other’s back to delete those terrifying numbers and cases from our future realities.
