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Description
The European Commission has defined 3 key areas in the Gender Equality Strategy: freedom from violence, gender equality economy and equality in leadership positions. The problem of violence against women, including femcide, is alarming and a major obstacle to equality. In Croatia, 80% of real estate is in the hands of men, 75% of the poor are women. Women are underrepresented in decision-making positions, especially at the local level. There is no analysis of local policies for women''s rights related to the implementation of gender equality principles at the local level.
The overall goal of the project is to encourage the implementation of gender equality policy at the local level. Trainings for the integration of gender equality principles into local policies and budgets and the implementation of local policy analysis will achieve the specific goal of strengthening the capacity of local organizations in these areas.
By analyzing the implementation of the principle of gender equality in local policies related to key areas of the European Commission Strategy with regard to the rights of particularly marginalized and vulnerable groups and organizing public hearings in local communities (including local governments with a development index below 100%). organizations and authorities and enable the discussion of the best solutions, will strengthen the advocacy role of local organizations.
The Conference on the Best Models of Implementing Gender Equality Policies at the Local Level will raise awareness of the importance of adopting the best models for implementing the principles of gender equality at the local level.
The multiplier effect will be achieved through the participation of representatives of other women''s rights organizations and other civil society organizations in trainings, public hearings and conferences, which will convey information to their members and members and representatives of local authorities in their communities.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the significant underrepresentation of women in public life and the lack of government policies that consider women''s needs and priorities. This oversight often results in policies that either fail to meet women''s needs or have unintended negative consequences. The project focused on several key issues: inequalities in paid work (income, property, wages, and employment opportunities), unpaid labor (such as caregiving and household work), and other disparities like violence against women and their participation in decision-making.
The project sought to open a public dialogue on the implementation of gender equality principles through local policies and budgets, particularly emphasizing the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups of women. The goal was to highlight the absence of necessary measures and strategic documents addressing these issues. Between 2022 and 2023, an analysis was conducted focusing on specific marginalized and vulnerable groups of women, including Roma women, lesbians, women with disabilities, survivors of violence, members of national minorities, women in rural areas, elderly women, and young women and girls. The research was carried out in eight local government units, ensuring territorial coverage, and involved examining key strategic documents and local public policies in Zagreb, Split, Križevci, Mali Lošinj, and Pakrac, as well as the municipalities of Biskupija, Donji Lapac, and Plitvička Jezera. The findings of this analysis were presented to the public and local government representatives through public discussions and a conference.
The project aimed to integrate gender equality principles into local policies across eight municipalities. To achieve this, it carried out a detailed analysis of how these principles were applied, focusing on marginalized and vulnerable groups of women, including Roma women, lesbians, women with disabilities, survivors of violence, and women in rural areas.
The project involved several key activities. First, it conducted a comprehensive review of the strategic documents and local policies from selected municipalities, including Zagreb, Split, Križevci, Mali Lošinj, Pakrac, Biskupija, Donji Lapac, and Plitvička Jezera. This analysis was centered on three major areas outlined in the EU Gender Equality Strategy: freedom from violence, gender-equal economy, and equality in leadership positions. The review assessed whether these documents addressed the needs of marginalized groups and identified gaps where gender equality measures were either lacking or insufficient.
Educational sessions were a significant part of the project. Throughout 2023, these sessions, conducted by experts, focused on integrating gender equality principles into local policies and budgets. They provided local authorities and organizations with the tools to better address gender issues in their policies. Following these trainings, six women’s rights organizations from different parts of Croatia conducted their own analyses of how local policies implemented these principles.
The results of these analyses were shared with the public and local authorities through a series of public discussions and a final conference. The public discussions were held in a hybrid format, using Zoom to connect local representatives from various municipalities, which allowed for a broad exchange of ideas and experiences. These discussions brought together local government officials, civil society organizations, and media representatives to review and debate the findings.
The final conference, held in Zagreb, showcased successful examples of gender equality practices and highlighted deficiencies in current strategies. It served as a platform for discussing the best approaches for implementing gender equality policies at the local level. The conference concluded the project and reinforced the ongoing need for advocacy to ensure that gender equality principles are effectively incorporated into local governance, with a particular focus on marginalized groups of women.
The project achieved several significant outcomes, benefiting local women''s rights organizations, municipal officials, and broader communities.
Local women''s rights organizations actively participated in the creation of analyses assessing how gender equality principles were implemented in local policies. These organizations strengthened their capacity through collaboration with local authorities and support from the Women’s Network of Croatia. They were equipped with a matrix for analyzing local policies, which will be a valuable tool for their future work.
Municipal officials engaged in public discussions and a final conference, gaining insight into the challenges of implementing gender equality principles at the local level. For many officials, this was their first exposure to the lack of adequate measures for gender equality, especially concerning marginalized groups of women. The project’s activities, including public discussions and the conference, were crucial in raising awareness among local authorities about these issues.
Media coverage of gender equality in local policies was limited, indicating a general lack of understanding and interest in the topic. This limited media attention underscored the need for more such events to raise public and media awareness about the importance of gender equality at the local level. Nonetheless, both national and local media reported on the public discussions and the conference, marking an important step towards increasing public sensitivity to the issue.
The project also positively impacted marginalized groups of women. By discussing the implementation of measures addressing their needs, the project raised awareness among local authorities and the public about these groups'' specific challenges. This led to open discussions about incorporating such measures into local policies.
Eight analyses were completed, covering three key areas identified in the EU Gender Equality Strategy: freedom from violence, gender-equal economy, and equality in leadership positions. The analyses focused on various vulnerable groups, including Roma women, women from national minorities, survivors of violence, women in rural areas, older women, lesbians, and women with disabilities. These analyses will support advocacy efforts and discussions around public policies.
Local women’s rights organizations from six different areas participated directly in these activities, addressing diverse issues such as Roma women''s rights, women from national minorities, rural women, survivors of violence, lesbians, and women with disabilities. The results of these analyses were shared with local authorities through public discussions and the final conference.
The public discussions and the conference were instrumental in informing local authorities about best practices and shortcomings in gender equality implementation. They fostered collaboration between local governments and women’s rights organizations and provided examples of effective gender equality measures.