100 Acts for Gender Equality in Croatia
As a part of the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017, the Embassy of Finland in Zagreb with the Croatian Governmental Office for Gender Equality(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) and the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality have initiated a project called 100 Acts for Gender Equality in Croatia. President of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, is the Patron for the campaign. The aim of the initiative is to collect 100 acts that enhance gender equality within the Croatian society.
Background
Gender equalityis a core value of Finland and the reason behind Finland's successful ascension from one of the poorest countries in Europe to a prosperous country with a place at the top of many social and economic rankings. Finland was the first in the world to extend the right to vote and stand for elections to women and men in 1906. By now, all the highest political positions in Finland have been held by women.
As a part of the celebrations and official programme of the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017, the National Council of Women of Finland(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)and the Council for Gender Equality (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)have organized a 100 Acts for Gender Equality -campaign. The project comprises of different communities taking concrete actions towards gender equality. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is also participating in the campaign. Thereby, all the departments of the Foreign Ministry and Finnish missions abroad will carry out at least one act for gender equality each.
Campaign in Croatia
The Embassy of Finland in Zagreb has engaged in the campaign with two major partners: the Croatian Governmental Office for Gender Equality (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)and the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality. President of the Republic of Croatia(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window), H.E. Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, is the Patron for the campaign. The aim of this initiative is to collect 100 Acts for Gender Equality in Croatia.
Who can participate?
Various kinds of organizations – public institutions, companies, municipalities, NGOs, educational institutions, media and labor market organizations – are challenged to participate. Each equality act will be published on the website www.finland.hr and communicated to the public via social media channels. Therefore, 100 Acts for Gender Equality offers different organizations with the possibility to not only develop themselves but also receive recognition for it. At the same time, the acts function as encouraging examples and benchmarks for good practices in the whole society.
How?
An act is a concrete measure that enhances gender equality within the Croatian society. It is recommended that participants engage their members in the planning and implementation of the act because acts committed to by the whole community yield best results. The act can be big or small, national or local, but it has to bring about active change to the current state of affairs.
In practice and as an example, the act can be implementation of an action plan for gender equality at work, school or organization, supporting the use of paternity leaves, increasing the transparency of salaries, increasing the number of members of underrepresented sex in positions of trust, organizing empowering cultural program or challenging the gender segregation in education and the labour market.
If your organization wants to participate, please send the free description of your act to the Embassy of Finland by e-mail ([email protected]). Should you need any assistance, please contact Ms. Laura Stojic at 01-6312080. In December 2017, on the 100th Independence Day of Finland, the best acts supporting equal opportunities for women and men in Croatia will be awarded.
Please do not hesitate to participate and support our – we believe common – goal of making our societies just and equitable places now and in the future!
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Examples of Gender Equality Acts from Finland
Plan International Finland
Plan International Finland will arrange an event called Girls Takeover on the International Day of the Girl Child (11th of October). Members of the organization's Children Board will during that day takeover the positions of various political, economic and business leaders. For example, 15-year-old Katariina Räikkönen will take Juha Sipilä's place as Prime Minister for one day during the event. The aim of Girls Takeover is to highlight the opportunities of girls and at the same time raise awareness about discrimination towards girls and women.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA)
Ministers Timo Soini and Kai Mykkänen will participate in the 100 Acts for Gender Equality -campaign, as will the Secretary of State, the Under-Secretaries of State, the Directors General and the Deputy Directors General of the Ministry. For example, MFA held a seminar regarding women's status and international trade on the 1st of March, 2017 in Helsinki. The speakers were Vanessa Ergobogbo and Robert Skidmorefrom International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneve. Partners from various organizations and ministries took part in the seminar.
Stastics Finland
Statistics Finland has committed to developing particularly the data content of the thematic pages on gender equality and the retrievability of gender equality data. Statistical data concerning gender equality are also highlighted in Statistics Finland's various communication channels and particularly in social media. The aim is to provide data on gender equality more easily and comprehensively than before to an even larger audience. Clear data that can be easily found support more extensively the work to promote gender equality
For more information:
http://tasaarvo100.fi/100-tasa-arvotekoa/ylavalikko/in-english/(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
http://suomifinland100.fi/project/100-acts-for-gender-equality/?lang=en(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)