Stimac-Radin told a news conference that great progress had been made in political participation, with women accounting for one quarter of MPs in the Croatian parliament, which was higher than the European average of 18 percent.
Presenting assessments, recommendations and conclusions which the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women made in response to Croatia's report on women's position in society from 1998 to 2004, Stimac-Radin said that "it was not only established that Croatia had no sexist laws but the country was also commended for legislative amendments adopted in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women."
"Those conclusions made by the UN committee are the best denial of claims which have appeared in the media such as the headline of Hina's news item reading 'The UN Committee says that Croatia still has sexists laws'", Stimac-Radin said.
She said that in Croatia women made up 25 percent of deputies in the parliament, 30 percent of staff in the government. The problem, however, is women's representation at local level which may be improved at the coming municipal elections, she added.
On 18 January, Stimac-Radin led a Croatian delegation at a session of the UN committee, presenting two reports covering the period from 1998 to 2004.
The UN committee mostly criticised Croatia over the lack of information on women from ethnic groups and disabled women, Stimac-Radin said, adding that the relevant Croatian bodies were aware of this and were keen to solve the problems.
Croatia has been asked to throughly implement relevant laws and inform women of their rights.
The UN Committee is concerned over a high rate of unemployed women in Croatia and over discrimination against job-seeking women. It has pointed the finger at gender stereotypes in school books, Stimac-Radin said.
The UN Committee is particularly concerned over the position of Roma women, she said, adding that this, unfortunately, was not only the problem of Croatia but also of the entire European Union.