Full Coverage: Croatia

28.02.2005 The RODA-Parents in Action association initiated a Petition to be submitted to the Government of the Republic of Croatia, demanding an urgent start of the Sabor (Parliament) procedure on the Draft_Law on Medically Assisted Fertilization, already reviewed at Government meeting of September 30, 2004. The Petition also demands from the Sabor to pass the proposed Law in an urgent procedure.

22.02.2005 The ATTACK! Autonomous Cultural Centre will organize, for the eight year in a row, the Festival of Alternative Theatre Expression – FAKI 8, May 25-28, 2005.

21.02.2005 The Croatian Jounalists Association (HND), ODRAZ and the Institute for International Relations (IMO) organize a round-table discussion on sustainable development in Croatia. The event will take place at the Great Hall of the Journalists House in Zagreb, on Thursday, February 24.

20.02.2005 The state will take 22 percent VAT (Value Added Tax) of every single Kuna that Croatian citizens and companies decide to donate to the needy. For instance, in last year’s action to purchase infant incubators, a whole new machine could be bought for the money taken for the VAT, and the state ignored all pleas to give it up and not charge it.

17.02.2005 The www.youth.hr website has the goal to connect the youth association from the area of special state care and inform the youth about their current situation and possibilities for finding solutions to their problems. This website will follow events and competitions and provide an opportunity to the youth population to find the information they seek, as well as to find suitable partners for their projects and activities.

16.02.2005 The Liberation of Animals association from Zagreb opposes the use of animals in experiments and vivisection, which can’t be justified neither in terms of ethics or in terms of science. The association promotes the use of alternative, more efficient methods which are more useful from the sciengific point of view.

14.02.2005 The proposed US State Budget for FY2006, which starts in October 2005, provides for increased foreign assistance. The increase, however, doesn’t cover all the countries recipients of US aid. Some, like Croatia, will see a reduction in assistance.

11.02.2005 The Croatian Women Network, Iskorak and Kontra associations, set an open letter to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, on the issue of sexual education in Croatian schools.

10.02.2005 The Croatian Women Network accused the political parties in Croatia of violations of the Law on Gender Equality and demanded special measures that would obligate the parties to dedicate 40% of their Electoral Lists to women.

09.02.2005 The changes in the Law on Social Welfare, which currently prohibits the civic associations to be involved in counseling as professional activity in the field of social welfare, have entered the final stage. Simultaneously, the Law provides that, in addition to the state institutions, this activity may be pursued by private individuals.

08.02.2005 A Project was started to promote the development of youth clubbing scene and youth activism in the Osijek-Baranja District. The Project connects cultural production, technology and activism, both temporally and spatially. Naturally, it adopts a realistic approach to the transitional circumstances of Osijek and the Osijek-Baranja Disctict in 2005.

08.02.2005 [Terminal00], International Balkanart Festival is based upon the collaboration, integration and interpolation of both traditional and contemporary SEE cultures, various cultural and other media organizations. For more information and an entry form, visit the website of [Terminal00] (in Croatian).

07.02.2005 At the press conference held by the National Foundation for Development of the Civil Society, it was claimed that the Foundation acted in accordance with the Law and the principle for transparent operations, and that now wrongdoing were in place.

02.02.2005 B.a.B.e. are strategic feminist group that works on promotion and implementation of women rights. Although the emphasis on feminism as an important feature puts them in the smaller group of women organizations that use it as an excuse, over the past decade they won for themselves the role of representative association in the organizing of women in Croatia.