The project Women’s Right to a Life Without Violence addresses an increasingly present problem in Croatian society through a series of actions. Devastating statistics show that despite the fact that women’s rights and freedoms are stipulated by law and the Constitution, they are continuously violated, which systematically endangers women. The primary goal of the project is to ensure an inclusive and open discussion that will cover a wide range of problems that women face today as victims of domestic and other types of violence, hate speech and various forms of discrimination. By informing and sensitizing citizens, Domino advocates for the necessity of legal changes and the development of a plan for the protection of women from domestic and all other types of violence.
The project directly and actively calls for the action of responsible citizens and the condemnation of all forms of violence, restrictions on freedoms and rights, and conscious and deliberate endangerment of women. Over the past six months, a continuous part of the project has been a collective intervention in public space by artist Arijana Lekić Fridrih – Silent Mass. Silent Mass is an artistic reaction to men who allegedly kneel in prayer every first Saturday of the month in about ten cities across Croatia. Through the symbolism of praying the rosary, these gatherings emphasize additional inequality of women, limiting their free movement and calling for the reduction of their constitutionally guaranteed civil rights. By holding the Silent Mass in parallel and regularly, Arijana Lekić-Fridrih points to the systematic transmission of messages of hatred by a group of men towards women, as well as the fact that women must once again fight for their long-acquired rights in conditions of heightened instability and insecurity.
This year, the Silent Mass was held in Zagreb, Split, Trogir, Osijek, Rijeka and Šibenik, and the Silent Mass has so far been supported by both citizens and other civil society organizations.
As this year was marked by elections at the local, national and European levels, part of the project included public forums in Zagreb, Split and Rijeka with political parties and candidates with the aim of advocating the inclusion of measures to prevent domestic violence and the legal definition of femicide in political party programs. In addition, a questionnaire was conducted for political parties and election candidates on plans for the prevention of violence and increasing support for victims of violence. Analysis of the questionnaires and political programs of the parties provided insight into problematic points that need to be addressed in future political mandates. The existing law on gender-based violence was also analyzed, which follows the recommendation for the creation of a New National Policy on Violence and Protection from Gender-Based Violence. A publication on available resources and places for assistance to victims of violence and a toolkit for reporting violence were also prepared.
Under the tag #womendecide, a video campaign was created as part of a project that opened the topic of the exponential growth of domestic and other forms of violence against women. The speakers in the video campaign pointed to the increase in the number of femicide, as well as cases of abuse and all types of harassment and discrimination on sexual and gender grounds. The videos were disseminated via social networks and the Domino association’s YouTube channel. The video campaign #womendecide was created in collaboration with Arijana Lekić-Fridrih, Severina, Jasenko Grujić, Dorotea Šušak, Dunja Bonacci Skenderović, Ivan Zidarević, Zvonimir Dobrović, Fred Matić, Josip Bubaš, Karla Jelić and Dora Čaldarović, Nataša Rajković, Nika Havrle, Nikolina Butorac, Tanja Lacko and Željka Jelavić.
With the same hashtag, a series of trainings was organized in collaboration with civil society organizations throughout Croatia, which strengthened the capacities of women’s social action and appealed to them to deconstruct patriarchal narratives (especially in smaller towns) by raising awareness of the irreplaceable role of women in successfully maintaining a community.
The central part of the project is the European Feminist Conference, which took place at the end of 2023 and continues into 2024. year. International conference and accompanying artistic and activist program organized by the Domino association 1. and 2 December in Zagreb brought together more than 30 politicians, artists, activists from Croatia and Europe. The conference was attended by Jelena Višnjić (SRB), Mirjana Kučer (HR), Sanja Sarnavka (HR), Arijana Lekić – Fridrih (HR), Dorotea Šušak (HR), Aleksandra Berberih Slana (SI), Nataša Mackuljak (AT), Josipa Bubaš (HR), Dr. Ema Kaiser (AT), Keren Levi (NL), Merel Smitt (NL), Mašenjka Bačić (HR), Anne Kühlmeyer (DE), Nada Peratović (HR), Jasenka Grujić (HR), Marko Matijević (HR), Karla Jelić (HR), Franka Perković (HR), Kristina Lelovac (MCD), Milena Zajović (HR), Lana Bobić (HR), Jelena Veljača (HR), Snježana Pavić (HR), Silvija Šeparović (HR), Ivana Dragičević (HR), Tihana Barbarić (HR), Nina Markus (HR) and Lea Oršus (HR). The program included panels on feminist activism, women’s rights in education and the arts and culture sector, reproductive rights, as well as a panel on youth and feminism. Part of the program were artistic interventions by Arijana Lekić-Fridrih, an exhibition by Lucija Žuti and workshops by Anna Kühlmeyer.
With this project, the Domino Association seeks to open a space for the public to become familiar with a topic that is crucial for creating an inclusive, democratic and equal society. By promoting cooperation with other civil society organizations as well as activists and public figures, a strong network is created that brings active and conscious resistance to all forms of violence.
The project is funded by the PROTEUS project of the Transatlantic Foundation, which is co-funded by the European Union.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. The European Union and the granting body cannot be held responsible for them.
