Coordinator of the Women's Room Maja Mamula, Ph. D. gave an introductory presentation at the symposium "Sexual abuse of women, research and case studies" held on March 19, 2013 from 13.00 to 15.00 in Zagreb. Public panel was moderated by Lana Petö Kujundžić, Judge of the County Court in Zagreb, and organized by the Association of judges for youth, family judges and experts for children and youth.

This aim of this symposium was to present the research on women's sexual rights in Croatia, as well as encourage experts and professionals to show greater commitment to women's rights in the area of accessing the assistance of administrative and judicial bodies. Furthermore, recently introduced Rules of Procedure in the case of sexual violence, which the government adopted on November 29, 2012, should contribute to a more effective fight against illegal conduct.

Our voice against the violence is a theme that Maja Mamula, Ph. D. addressed in the City Library in Požega. Maja Mamula is, among other, an expert and activist for women's human rights, coordinator of the Women's Room, lecturer at the Croatian Studies, Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek, award recipient of the Woman of the Year from the City of Zagreb. The lecture was organized by the City of Požega on the occasion of the Day of the City and the International Women's Day in order to sensitize the public and empower them to combat violence.

According to data from the Požega-Slavonia Police Administration, last year 360 people were reported for family violence misdemeanor, which included 297 men and 63 women. There were also four reports of the offense of violent conduct within a family in which four people were injured, three women and one man. Maja Mamula noted that some positive changes are noticeable due to mechanisms for gender equality but that in order to achieve better results, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between different institutions and civil society organizations for the benefit of the victim, so that she becomes a priority, along with the provision of long-term assistance to victims survivors of violence.

To mark the International Women’s Day, mr. sc. Ivan Čolak extended congratulations, on behalf of the Mayor Zdravko Ronko, and gave a rose to each woman participating in the event. The music gift was performed by the guitar quartet of students from the Music School, Laura Bušić, Silvester Fridrich, Monika Banović and Dominik Šporčić. The program was complemented by fragments of famous films about women's side of reality.

 

Ombudswoman for Gender Equality, Višnja Ljubičić, and three women’s union groups - Women's Section of the Alliance of Independent Croatian Unions, Women’s Committee of the Independent Croatian Unions, and Women’s Coordination of Croatian Union Association, organized a celebration of the International Women's Day. The performance "They are among us" was created by Mario Kovač, in collaboration with Petra Radin and participation of: Mia Begović (actress), Ina Čavlina (director), Dora Delbianco (playwright), Sanja Doležal (singer), Marija Husar (singer), Ivona Juka (director), Marija Khon (actress), Jasmina Lovrić (scientist), Larisa Navojec (choreographer), Barbara Nola (actress), Željka Ogresta (producer), Ecija Ojdanić (actress), Mirela Priselac Remy (singer), Maja Sever (journalist), Anica Tomić (director), Davorka Vidović (scientist ), Nina Violić (actress), activists volunteers, among them Paula Zore, a member of the Women's Room.

Through the presentation of several stories of women victims of sexual harassment, the performance reminded everyone of discrimination and violence against women in the workplace. In addition, leaflet and guide for union representatives and lawyers "Gender discrimination and harassment in employment and labor market" was promoted.

Founder of the global V-Day, Eve Ensler, has launched a new global campaign to end violence against women, in which you can take part by - dancing.

This year, V-Day - a global movement against violence against women and girls marks 15 years of combating violence against women and girls. However, traditional performance of Vagina Monologues by the author Eve Ensler, which "promotes awareness about violence against women and women's activism against violence against women and girls," has lost the strength and visibility, and the 'mother of the movement’, Ensler created a new campaign.

The campaign is called One Billion Rising, which is an estimated number of abused women in the world. The official announcement says how One Billion Rising is a "global protest and call to women to dance thereby refusing to accept the status quo as long as rape and the culture of violence do note cease to exist. It emphasizes solidarity, which aims to demonstrate the unity of women's struggle, but also the power of their numbers. Billion rising is the call to millions of abused women, the men who love them, women who have been beaten, raped, economically devalued and sold, as well as those who know that the destruction of women leads to the end of humankind, to come out of their homes, take over the streets and squares, invite their friends, protest and dance ... "

In Zagreb, this dance uprising will take place in Zrinjevac on February 14 at 2 pm. It is being organized by the Centre for Women Studies, the Center for Women War Victims, the Women's Room, K-Zone, an Association of Persons with Disabilities of Croatia, UNDP Croatia, and prominent individuals.

Action is supported by public figures who will celebrate this Valentine's Day through singing, playing music and dancing in protest against the violence. Among them are: Nina Romić, Zdenka Kovačiček, Maja Vučić, Le Zbor, Žen, U pol 9 kod Sabe, Apokalipso, Hladno pivo, Boa, Goran Bogdan, Goran Navojec, Vesna Mimica and VEM, 5 Ritmova, Centar salsa, COREnesa ... . and many, many others ... One Billion Rising Croatia invites citizens of Croatia to get involved in this global protest and come to Zrinjevac on February 14 (2-6 pm).

On January 22, 2013, Croatia became 26th Member State of the Council of Europe to have signed the "Convention on the Prevention and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence". The Council of Europe adopted the Convention in April 2011 and its signing began during May in Istanbul. In March of last year, Turkey was not only the first country that has signed it, but also the only Member State of the Council of Europe, which has ratified this Convention. The Convention is the first legally binding European instrument in this area that identifies measures for prevention of all forms of violence and discrimination against women, including psychological, physical and sexual violence, stalking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and points to the connection between gender-based violence and gender equality.

Among the key areas of the Convention are prevention, protection, monitoring, criminal responsibility, and a set of policies and measures, which involve cooperation between governments, nongovernmental organizations, agencies, etc. The legal framework for the prevention of violence against women is focused on the work of non-governmental organizations and the media in campaigns aimed at raising awareness and promoting gender equality, victim assistance programs, and programs for work with perpetrators.

The Convention defines the offenses that Member States will be required to include in their legislative systems, and consequently criminally prosecute the perpetrators. Offenses include psychological and physical violence, sexual violence and rape, stalking, forced marriage, forced abortion and forced sterilization as well as female genital mutilation. Through this Convention, Croatia will for the first time introduce, in its legislative framework, genital mutilation as a form of violence against women. Besides women, victims under the Convention include men, children and the elderly.

Among the key areas of the Convention are prevention, protection, monitoring, criminal responsibility, and a set of policies and measures, which involve cooperation between governments, nongovernmental organizations, agencies, etc. The legal framework for the prevention of violence against women is focused on the work of non-governmental organizations and the media in campaigns aimed at raising awareness and promoting gender equality, victim assistance programs, and programs for work with perpetrators.

The Convention defines the offenses that Member States will be required to include in their legislative systems, and consequently criminally prosecute the perpetrators. Offenses include psychological and physical violence, sexual violence and rape, stalking, forced marriage, forced abortion and forced sterilization as well as female genital mutilation. Through this Convention, Croatia will for the first time introduce, in its legislative framework, genital mutilation as a form of violence against women. Besides women, victims under the Convention include men, children and the elderly.

On January 12, 2013, hokey players of Medveščak presented a calendar through which they want to attract attention and remind all of us of the importance of guide dogs and consideration for people who are safer in the streets because of them. In order for their training to be more numerous and easier, we have teamed up with the Croatian Guide Dog and Mobility Association and produced a calendar "Always Together" starring Lala, Xanta, Bono, Vili and Heidi alongside the players.

Gal Koren, Alan Letang, Saša Martinović, Andy Sertich, Brandon Buck and Michael Ouzas presented everyday situations, such as tram or taxi ride or going to a restaurant where they were always accompanied by their guide dogs, which should be possible in everyday life!

Photographs were a volunteer work of the member and photographer of the Women's Room, Boris Krstinić.

You can support this action by purchasing a calendar that will be available at all matches of the Arena Ice Fever, and at the Guide Dog and Mobility Association.

Calendar can be viewed at the following link .

From May to December 2012, the Women's Room, in collaboration with the Office of Mayor, implemented a project with the aim of raising awareness and sensitizing the public on the issue of domestic violence. In addition to advertising on public transport, and organizing a public action, a short TV spot was filmed. Through participation in the TV spot Actor Goran Bogdan has supported the campaign and once again contributed to the prevention of violence against women.

In the scope of the project "Through acting against violence," implemented by the Women's Room, and supported by the City Office of Education, Culture and Sports of the City of Zagreb, a theater performance "Why me?" on the subject of human trafficking was organized on December 4, 2012.

 

The aim of the play is to educate youth about the problem of human trafficking and the dangers which they may encounter in their employment search. In addition, the goal is to familiarize them with the mechanisms of protection and to actively involve them in the prevention and combating of this problem. The play shows the process of trafficking in human beings, from the recruitment to the final stage, so-called exploitation phase.

 

The play was created through the establishment of a drama group "Minimalists" led by Maja Vukmanić (project coordinator, social pedagogist, the Women's Room) and Ana Đordić (Prof. Croatian language and literature, XIII. Gymnasium in Zagreb). Drama group "Minimalists" is comprised of: Robert Budak, Marta Dugandžić, Valentina Lončarić, Ana Pavlović, Tomislav Brodarić and Luka Žučko, students at the University of Zagreb.

 

 

 

Maja Mamula participated in the 4th scientific-expert conference dedicated to the issues of violence, which took place from November 29 to December 1, 2012 in Osijek. The organizers were the Department of Psychology at the University of Osijek and Osijek Psychological Society in cooperation with the Croatian Psychological Chamber and the Croatian Psychological Association. The conference is held biennially, and each time has a specific theme. This year's theme was violence and mental health - an interdisciplinary approach. As evidenced by this year's theme, it gathered experts from different fields, which is a great advantage for joint efforts in the area of combating violence.

 

Maja Mamula and Ivana Dijanić Plašć held a presentation "A typical victim of domestic violence in the Republic of Croatia - socio-demographic profile," stemming from results of a research conducted in 2010 by the Office for Gender Equality and the Women's Room.