On 26 January 2011 in Washington a presentation of a comparative report of a research on men and gender equality published under title "Evolving Men - Initial Results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES)" took place. IMAGES research in Croatia was done by CESI. The survey was also carried out in Brazil, Mexico, India, Chile and Rwanda .Promotion was attended by Nataša Bijelić, CESI representative and leader of the IMAGES research in Croatia.

"Sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents in Central and Eastern Europe and Balkan countries" report was carried out by the ASTRA Youth network as a joint initiative and presented in January in the European Parliament. The report covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Macedonia, Poland, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Croatian report was prepared in cooperation with CESI.

Supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Croatia CESI is implementing the project "Equal opportunities for women and girls with visual impairments". As a result of a combination of social attitudes towards women and disability, women with visual impairment have a lower degree of independence, less access to education and labor market than men with disabilities and women in general. Therefore, the aim of the project is to encourage the empowerment and involvement of women with visual impairments in social processes and raising public awareness of issues affecting women with disabilities.

CESI participates in the implementation of international project of European Commission, DAPHNE III  "Gender Equality Awareness Raising against Intimate Partner Violence" whose purpose is to contribute to primary violence prevention in partner relationships through intervention at schools. The third meeting of partner organisations was held in Athens from 13 -15 January 2011, at which CESI representatives Sanja Cesar and Nataša Bijelić participated.

At schools in Velika Gorica pupils attended two CESI programs lead by our co-workers Biserka Šavora, Sania Kuzmac and Vesna Štefančić. The Program "Adolescence pregnancy prevention" was conducted in the second grades of high schools with purpose to inform pupils of the importance of reproductive health protection and promotion of responsible sexual behaviour. At the workshops conducted in twenty classes 560 high school students took part.

We wish 2011 will be filled with inspiration and creative energy! The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to look back at the year we left behind, and the time to set objectives for the year ahead of us. These are three most significant achievements in 2010 and three important objectives for 2011.

The first meeting of partner organizations was held in Italy (Campobasso) from 20th to 25th November, relating to the project GET - Gender Issues in Europe Today and within the Grundtvig partner programme of European Union. Gordana Obradović Dragišić and Anamarija Gospočić, CESI representatives attended the meeting held at the University in Molise. The partnership is co-ordinated by the organization Strategie 21 from Germany.

At the beginning of this month, a seminar was held within the project "Realization of gender equality between men and women in a local community", conducted by CESI with the support of the city of Zagreb and Embassy of France in Croatia. The implementation of gender mainstreaming policy is according to the Law on Gender Equality the liability of local and regional autonomy units, as well as the education of the same. The Seminar on gender mainstreaming policy was conducted for the male and female employees of Zagreb City Administration, a total number of 21 employees from ten different offices.

Anand Grover, UN special rapporteur on the right to health invited the representatives of civil society organizations from East Europe to consultation relating to the right of each person to the highest possible standards of physical and mental health. The meeting was held in European Youth Centre Budapest (EYCB) from November 26 to 28, 2010. Sanja Cesar, as a CESI representative took part as the only participant from Croatia.

CESI is starting a project "Strengthening of unemployed women in active participation in the labour market – Women are choosing a new chance!" as one of 18 projects which got the grants from EU Pre-Accession Funds "Women in the Labour Market" within IV component of IPA programme "Human Resources Development". The main goal of the programme "Women in the Labour Market" is the increase of employability of women and the assistance at the labour market through the active measures of employment policy and special labour methods directed to women in unfavourable position in the labour market, with respect to the principles of gender aware policy.

European Commission organised a Conference on Violence against Women in Bruxelles on the 25 and 26 November, in cooperation with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of Europe. The Conference followed the Summit of EU Women Ministers on Violence against Women organised by the Belgian Presidency on the 24 November. The Conference gathered around two hundred participants of various profiles such as parliamentarians, experts and NGO members active in the field of violence against women. Nataša Bijelić was participant of the Conference on behalf of CESI.

In order to warn about omissions made in the educational system regarding reproductive and sexual health of young people and to inform the public on the worrying amount of disinformation that young people read in textbooks, CESI and the Youth Initiative organised a street action under the name: Sex na ex! O meni brine MZOŠ- neprocjenjivo (Sex na Ex! Ministry of Science, Education and Sports are looking after me – invaluable!). Students and pupils were handed out campaign promotional materials and talked to their peers about the importance of responsible sexual behaviour. The action was supported by actress Ana Begić, singer and journalist Ida Prester and actor Kristijan Kiki Ugrina.

CESI supports retirement equality for all women but also the request for constitutional review made by MP Drago Lesar regarding the Law on Rights and Duties of Representatives in the Croatian Parliament. The age limit for retirement is planned to be extended gradually by three months every year until 2030, so that in 20 years women go into old age retirement at 65 years of age, just as men. However, this legislation does not apply to all women. The Law on Rights and Duties of Members of the Croatian Parliament, the Law on Rights and Duties of Civil Servants and the Constitutional Law on Constitutional Court stipulates the age of 55 years for retirement for women civil servants.

Sanja Cesar attended the study tour seminar " The role of CSOs in combating domestic violence " organised by People 2 People Programme in Brussels from 25-28 (...)

CESI representative, Sanja Cesar, attended the strategic meeting titled Resource Mobilization for Women's Rights Organizations and Movements in the SEE/CEE/CIS Region (...)