The purpose of the primary research was to trace institutional mechanisms and their mandates and to examine the history and social-political context in which they originated. In particular, the research sought to evaluate the influence of civil society in these developments, analyze its activities, and determine the overall impact on the status of women in Croatia in the present day.
The main purpose of the second body of research was to figure out whether the established mechanisms of gender equality have helped to actualize the demands of the women's movement concerning gender equality, and determine the ways in which these mechanisms have impacted feminist groups and the Women's movement overall.
The research was operationalized by the following questions and guidelines:
- How to trace whether public insitutions and structures in Croatia, those that were established in line with the mandate, are implementing the principles of gender equality?
- Determine the context and the dynamics of the origin of institutional mechanisms; analyze their impact upon the establishment of the legal framework and gender equality policies; note any successes, obstacles faced, and shortcomings in the execution of these policies
- Define the status of gender equality mechanisms within the government, and estimate their political and financial power in regards to their potential to bring the issue of gender equality into the mainstream consciousness
- Analyze how institutional mechanisms for gender equality cooperate with women's civil society organizations in the creation and execution of women's policies
- Through these mechanisms, are feminist activists given better access to the finacial and decision-making spheres for implementing activities and programs for women?
- Have the mechanisms contributed to the strengthening and linking of women's organizations, thereby facilitating their impact on the creation of national gender policies?
An analysis of the results sought to answer the key questions, articulate recommendations for improving the work of institutional mechanisms, particularly through cooperation with civil society organizations, and consider which strategies should be adopted by feminist organizations in their relations with the government so that the fundamental goal can be actualized: gender equality and the advancement of women in society.
