ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - The head of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's Monitoring Committee, Josette Durrieu, talked in Zagreb on Wednesday with representatives of some 20 non-government organisations about problems
encountered by minorities living in Croatia, discrimination and gender equality.
ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - The head of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly's Monitoring Committee, Josette Durrieu,
talked in Zagreb on Wednesday with representatives of some 20 non-
government organisations about problems encountered by minorities
living in Croatia, discrimination and gender equality. #L#
Durrieu told reporters the talks focused on the problems of the Serb
and Romany communities. She said that Serb People's Council
president Milorad Pupovac had spoken about discrimination against
Serbs, especially regarding employment and tenancy rights.
Speaking about Romany children, Durrieu said that separate classes
for Romany children was not a solution to their integration into the
Croatian society. She said that non-governmental organisations had
also informed her about problems encountered by homosexuals and
women.
Mirjana Feric-Vac, who heads Croatia's parliamentary delegation at
the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, told reporters
that Croatia had certain problems with regard to the prevention of
discrimination, but that some progress had been made, especially
regarding women's rights. She mentioned a draft law on gender
equality, which for the first time focuses on the sanctioning of
gender discrimination. The draft also envisages the establishment
of an office for gender equality, she added.
Feric-Vac said that "no element of discrimination is an element of
the government's or parliament's policy".
Durrieu will visit Petrinja tomorrow.
(hina) rml