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From 13-15 November, in Terme Jezerčica, CESI organised a seminar for new local council members and members of County Commissions for Gender Equality, on the theme "The realization of equality between women and men in the local community."

Twenty-four persons from Central and Northwestern Croatia attended the seminar, thanks to their experience in the local comunity; they have had the opportunity to exchange ideas and projects, and to unite on solving mutual problems.

Verica Rupčić, the President of the Koprivnica-Križevci Commission commented "The Commission for Gender Equality of the Koprivnica-Križevci County has been working on starting a Safe house and I am very glad to have had the chance to contact a colleague from the Međimurje Commission which is already finishing this matter".

Participants in the seminar discussed strategies and plans for the realization of gender equality in their counties, cities and municipalities. The issues of unemployment, domestic violence, work-life balance and participation of women in local policy have been identified as some of the priority areas.

This provided a basis for action plans which the seminar participants are able to apply in their local communities.

Council members from the cities and counties in which no Commissions for Gender Equality exists, or it does not function properly, expressed a strong desire to start the foundation, or change an existing establishment of the Commission, because local mechanisms for promoting gender equality are the base for the implementation of gender-conscious policies at the local level.

"Although we have a County Commission, it is created exclusively according to political criteria and, unfortunately, the President of the Commission is not very interested for work. We need to change that, and then start the establishment of committees in the cities," concluded the participants from one of the counties.

Given the fact that most participants were from different political parties, one of the conclusions of the seminar is that achieving real change and equal opportunities for women and men in local communities is possible only by achieving cooperation regardless of political disagreements.

One participant of the seminar observed: "If this kind of atmosphere would rule in our City Council, and if there would be more mutual understanding between political parties, it would be possible to achieve much more in local communities on the issue of equal opportunities."

 The seminar was conducted under the combined project "Empowerment of women and men for the implementation of gender-conscious policies at the local level" carried out by the organizations for women's human rights: CESI, Babe, Domine, CGI and Delfin. The International foundation Balkan Trust Foundation and the Office for Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Croatia financially supported the project.