National policy for gender equality for the period 2011-2015.

This National Policy for Gender Equality is the basic strategic document of the Republic of Croatia, adopted with the aim of eliminating discrimination against women and establishing real gender equality through the implementation of the policy of equal opportunities for the period from the year 2011 until the year 2015. The policy of gender equality and women's empowerment, as one of the fundamental principles of the democratic structure and social order in the Republic of Croatia, was accepted at the highest state level by the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Parliament. The National Policy for Gender Equality (hereinafter: National Policy ) for the period 2011-2015 builds on the previous National Policy of 2006-2010.("Narodne novine", No. 114/06), redefining national priorities, methods of implementation and taking special measures in accordance with changed social and political circumstances, achieved progress and further challenges in establishing real gender equality. It contains seven key areas of action and obliges the Republic of Croatia to include the gender dimension in all policy areas by implementing special measures related to: 1) Promotion of women's human rights and gender equality, 2) Creation of equal opportunities on the labor market, 3) Improvement of the application of gender-sensitive education and education, 4) Balancing the participation of women and men in political and public decision-making processes, 5) Eliminating all forms of violence against women. The strategic approach is also based on the obligations assumed by signing various international treaties, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Millennium Declaration, obligations arising from membership in the Council of Europe, and further tasks in the process of joining the European Union. One of the most important goals in achieving full equality is to improve the position of women on the labor market in view of their difficult employment and lower wages, as well as the various forms of discrimination they face during employment and professional advancement. Since the economic crisis has affected male-dominated industries, the gap between the employment and unemployment rates of men and women has narrowed. In the promotion of gender equality in the international environment, the Republic of Croatia played an active role in the past period. The most important goal in the next period, in accordance with the communication strategy for joining the EU, is to undertake numerous activities related to informing the public about gender equality legislation and policies implemented at the EU level, as well as the development of cooperation modalities with the European Institute for Gender Equality.
The adoption of a national policy for gender equality ensures the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality (prescribed in article 18, paragraph 2), which instructs the Office for Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to draft a national policy for the promotion of gender equality and supervise its implementation.