Night March: Plenković Openly Lies About the Date of Ratification of the Istanbul Convention

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a ‘Night March – March 8’ was held in Zagreb, a protest organized for the third consecutive year by the feminist collective fAKTIV, whose area of activity includes the fight for women’s labor and social rights, against gender-based violence towards women, and advocating for reproductive and sexual rights.

In addition to the capital, marches were also held in Split, initiated by the Domine association, and in Rijeka, organized by the LORI association and PaRiter, as well as the Center for Civic Initiatives Poreč.

At the Square of the Victims of Fascism in Zagreb at 6 PM, thousands of protesters gathered, welcoming the arrival of latecomers with loud whistles and applause.

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– Women are underpaid workers and unpaid houseworkers in this society, we are perceived solely as mothers, educators, and caregivers of the nation. We are angry because gender-based violence against women goes unpunished, we are angry because the long-fought right to abortion is under attack from the Church and the ruling parties, the organizers of the march stated.

– We are angry because Prime Minister Plenković openly lies about the date of ratification of the Istanbul Convention, and Minister Murganić sends a message to women to be silent and endure violence within their four walls. We are angry because fierce fascist attacks on all Others and those who are different continue, said the speakers from the fAKTIV collective.

Among the protesters were Anka Mrak Taritaš from GLAS, former President Ivo Josipović, SDP President Davor Bernardić, and SDP members Ranko Ostojić, Joško Klisović, and Arsen Bauk.

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Among the demands is one of the hottest political potatoes in Croatia, the Istanbul Convention. After the ‘slaps’ from the Council of Europe, which earlier in the day called on EU members for a swift ratification, the Prime Minister stated that he is convinced that the convention will be on the Government’s agenda in two weeks.

– We demand change. We demand free abortion, the abolition of the conscience clause for gynecologists, and the urgent ratification of the Istanbul Convention. We demand the dismantling of the myth of the family as a community solely of a man and a woman for the purpose of reproduction. We demand a fairer society, one that does not make the rich richer and the poor poorer – for ourselves and for those who come after us. March 8 is not a day for compromises! Long live March 8! the organizers declared, accompanied by thunderous applause.