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Description
Since the last year, we’ve been witnessing a new social phenomena that may seem harmless, but is very dangerous and is a part of the worst social extremism. We’re talking about “prayers” who, by kneeling on Zagreb’s (and other cities) central square, stand for patriarchal values and limitations of women''s freedoms. Such actions threaten women''s freedom of choice, especially on the choice for abortion. So far, all countries which had these phenomena banned abortion.
Strong advocacy for the protection of women''s rights and abortion is right now needed more than ever in Croatia. The main goal of the project is to strengthen the advocacy position of NGOs in relation to the protection of women''s rights, especially the right to abortion, while uniting NGOs in the field of women''s rights protection.
The target groups are citizens and NGOs active in the protection of women''s rights and the right to abortion.
Kea activities are:
- a survey to find out the level of knowledge of citizens about the topic of abortion and the status of protection of women''s rights and freedoms.
- a public campaign on social media and web to inform the general public and relevant NGOs, to empower them to advocate for the protection of women''s rights and the right to abortion.
- to create a safe space for sharing women''s personal stories.
- publish articles, interviews, and blog posts that will educate about the women''s rights and rights to legal abortion.
- networking and connecting with similar NGOs and individuals; exchange of experiences to a larger number of stakeholders and later sharing the acquired information.
Together with similar organizations, we’ll put pressure on decision-makers; publish information about the legislative system, call on decision-makers to express their opinion on the subject and express themselves regarding the adoption on constitutional decisions, and to request the return of abortion to the Constitution of the Repulbic of Croatia.
Summary of project results
Since the end of last year, we have been witnessing protests, the so-called "supplicants" who, by kneeling on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb, stand for the re-traditionalization of society, patriarchal values and the restriction of women''s freedoms. Although they seem harmless, such ultra-conservative statements are part of the worst social extremism because they threaten women''s freedom of decision, and above all the right to abortion. In all countries where such retrograde phenomena have been increasing, abortion bans have been introduced, the same is demanded by the men who pray in the Zagreb square.
At this moment, passive resistance from such potentially dangerous organizations is not enough, but it is time for activation and action. We must act actively to contribute to the changes we want to see. Women''s emancipation, a woman''s right to decide about her own body, the constitutional protection of abortion as a woman''s right are values that we want to advocate and demand that these ideas and freedoms enter the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. The advocacy of ultra-conservative ideas goes hand in hand with the denial of the right to public education, health and social care.
In Croatia, abortion is legal and regulated by the law on health care. However, abortion is not easily available, especially in rural areas, where there are not enough doctors to perform them. There is also the stigmatization of women who decide to have an abortion.
According to statistics, relatively few women in Croatia decide to terminate their pregnancy. In 2019, a total of 1,637 abortions were performed, which is the lowest number in the last ten years. In addition, there are fewer and fewer young women who decide to have an abortion, while the number of abortions at an older age has increased.
A large number of CSOs in the Republic of Croatia advocate for women''s rights and support in deciding about their own bodies, and provide information and support to women who are in a difficult situation related to pregnancy, but on these issues they are still not united in achieving a common goal. In addition to advocacy and education, the project wants to connect and promote these CSOs with the aim of empowering them for further advocacy and protection of women''s rights.
"In the realm of civil society engagement, various organizations play a crucial role in shaping public policies and advocating for human rights. Looking at the statistics provided:
A significant involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) is evident in the preparation and/or enactment of national policies, indicating their active participation in the democratic process.
The extensive coverage in media outlets, with 14 public mentions, underscores the visibility and recognition of CSOs'' contributions to policy-making and implementation.
Three CSOs demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based advocacy by utilizing research and data to support their initiatives and influence policy decisions effectively.
Additionally, three CSOs specialize in advocating for, protecting, and monitoring women''s human rights, highlighting a focused effort towards addressing gender inequality and promoting gender equity.
One campaign aimed at raising public awareness signifies concerted efforts by CSOs to mobilize public opinion and drive social change on critical issues.
The involvement of three CSOs in advocating for broader human rights underscores their dedication to upholding fundamental freedoms and ensuring equality for all individuals.
Remarkably, over a thousand individuals actively participate in these campaigns, reflecting widespread support and engagement from the community.
Finally, CSOs undertake initiatives to advise and inform vulnerable groups about legislative frameworks and public policies, empowering them to navigate complex legal systems and exercise their rights effectively.
These statistics underscore the multifaceted role of civil society in fostering inclusive governance, promoting human rights, and driving positive social transformation."
Our project achieved significant results in promoting the right to abortion and women''s reproductive health.
Increased number of participants: Instead of the originally planned 100 surveyed people, we managed to include as many as 1,011 people in our campaigns and activities. This increase in participants shows broad support for the abortion rights issue.
Social Media Growth: Our social media presence has grown significantly. We attracted around 450 new followers on Facebook, while we gained 200 new followers on Instagram. This increase in the number of followers testifies to the growing interest in our work and the topic we promote.
Partnership with relevant organizations: We partnered with the Brave Sisters and the Center for Women''s Studies to highlight the importance of the issue of abortion rights and women''s reproductive health, and signed a cooperation agreement. This partnership has provided us with greater influence and resources for our activities.
Organization of the event: on the occasion of the International Day of Safe Abortion, we talked with prominent people, decision-makers such as Sabina Glasovac, Rada Borić and Marijana Puljak about current problems related to abortion, the legislative framework and public policies, given that they are active in politics and creating public policy. This event raised awareness of the topic and stimulated a discussion that continued even after the event, when we held a meeting with the above-mentioned presenters.
Social media as a promotion tool: We published 14 campaign posts on Facebook and Instagram, which increased the visibility of our association and the topic of abortion rights. The highest reach on one of the posts was 7,846 and generated 1,797 engagements, and another post with 5,470 people generated 658 interactions. These results testify to the successful use of social media for the promotion of our campaign.
All these achieved results clearly show that we have successfully increased awareness and support for abortion rights and women''s reproductive health and have made a significant impact in our community.