CROATIA CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and sex equality commission's head, Zeljka Antunovic, on Wednesday handed over to the United Nations' Secretary-General office a document on the ratification of Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Croatian government stated today. Croatia is 18th UN member-country to have ratified the Optional Protocol. Thus, Zagreb has confirmed its commitment to the consistent implementation of the said Convention as well as of the protection of women's human rights. The Sabor's House of Representatives ratified the Optional Protocol on 24 January 2001. The protocol takes effects three months after the document on its ratification is delivered. The States Parties to the Protocol agree that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women may receive and consider complaints submitted by or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals, under the jurisdiction of a State Party, claiming to be victims of a violation of any of the rights set forth in the Convention by that State Party. The Committee can instigate procedure of the examination of the conduct of States Parties owing to grave and systematic violation of human rights. (hina) ms