ZAGREB, May 23, 2018 – Members of the Women’s Network of Croatia held a protest outside the government offices on Wednesday, demanding speedy and efficient implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, and warning that since its ratification by the parliament three women have been killed.
Dressed as handmaids, the protesters said that the existing mechanisms of protection against domestic violence and violence against women were insufficient to protect women.
They believe that the ongoing campaign for the collection of signatures for a referendum to revoke the Istanbul Convention should not have any effect on the implementation of the convention.
“The referendum question is unconstitutional since equality is a constitutional value. What worries us deeply is that efforts are being made to cancel an international document relevant for the protection of women against violence while at the same time women are dying,” said activist Lana Bobić.
