International Women’s Day 2021: A Statement from the Women’s Network of Croatia
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the Women’s Network of Croatia reminds that the Government of the Republic of Croatia still does not have a National Strategy for Gender Equality. This affects all areas of life and results in discrimination and worsening of the position of women. Thus, today we are faced with a steady increase in reports of domestic violence and the deteriorating economic situation of women.
Last week, the government rejected a proposal to introduce the so-called family allowance. It is an obvious neglect of the position of women, especially the elderly ones. It is known that the difference in salaries is 12% to the detriment of women, and this difference doubles in pensions. Women make 91% of beneficiaries of family pensions, which they receive if they are not granted the right to a pension or their pension is less than the pension of the deceased partner. On the other hand, in a situation where one partner dies, the Government does not take into account the fact that the spouses jointly acquired that pension. Such a policy puts women at risk of severe poverty in old age.
The Women’s Network of Croatia emphasizes that the issue of family pension or allowance is not just a question of social security. This is a violation of human rights and yet another threat to gender equality. In this way, women are exposed to structural economic discrimination and are denied the right arising from marital property.
The lack of a strategy for equality at the national level, among other things, leads to such discriminatory practices that not only neglect the fundamental value of gender equality, but also grossly violate it.
The Women’s Network of Croatia calls on the Government of the Republic of Croatia to urgently adopt a new National Strategy for Gender Equality. We also ask the Government to include gender equality in the consideration of proposals for amendments to the Social Security Act and to take into account the fact that such decisions by the Government put women at a severe risk of poverty.
