Croatian gov't adopts convention against gender-based violence

ZAGREB, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Croatian government on Thursday adopted a Council of Europe convention against gender-based violence and sent it to the parliament for ratification, state agency HINA reported.

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), which was opened for signature in May 2011 in Istanbul, has prompted debates in Croatia.

The southeastern European country signed the Convention in January 2013 while social-democrats were in power. However, the former government didn't ratify it.

Conservative groups have been criticizing the convention arguing that the ratification would undermine family values and traditions. Although they agree that women should be better protected, they claim that the Convention introduce the so-called "gender ideology" which would be forced on children in schools and even kindergartens.

Nevertheless, the central-right government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, on Thursday unanimously adopted Istanbul Convention with an interpretive statement that it is in line with the Croatian constitution and does not contain or support "gender ideology".

The prime minister decided to add the interpretative statement in the bill to calm down the right wing of his own party, as well as other conservative members of parliament.

Davor Bernardic, the leader of the strongest opposition party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), called the government interpretative statement "a useless piece of paper", but said that his party would vote for the convention.

Plenkovic pushed the convention in parliament despite protests from his own party.

On March 20, the presidency of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union supported ratification of the convention but with 16 "yes" and nine "no" votes. Among those who voted against it were some prominent members of the ruling party such as the deputy party president, vice president, and political secretary.

Conservative groups have announced a public protest against the ratification on Saturday, March 24. Enditem