DISPLACED, REFUGEES REPS HOLD ROUND TABLE ON WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS

ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - Representatives of non-government associations on Sunday held a round table to discuss "Women's Human Rights of Returnees, Refugees and Displaced Persons", as part of a three-day work-shop organized in Zagreb from 17 to 19 October by the B.a.B.e. women's human rights group. Today's round table focused on the loss of displaced person-status and property rights, the right to reconstruction and the accommodation of elderly displaced women. According to Martina Belic, a representative of the B.a.B.e, women representatives of non-government organizations over the past couple of days discussed laws relating to the return of displaced persons, in particular a law on the temporary administration of specific property which, they believe, causes problems in the return of women and families to eastern Croatia and other parts of Croatia. The women representatives welcomed the establishment of a national committee for the restoration of trust, chaired by Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, but pointed out the committee should include representatives of non-government associations, churches and displaced persons as well. The loss of displaced person-status, and the new six-month- long returnee-status is inappropriate, they said, since reconstruction in some parts of Croatia has not yet started, which causes additional insecurity. The women representatives also pointed out issues of accommodation and insufficient care of elderly displaced women and health insurance of women refugees. (hina) ha 191609 MET oct 97