Croatian non-profit organizations focused on women’s rights
PUBLISHED: 13.3.2023.
Croatia’s udrugas (non-profit organizations) focused on feminism and preserving women’s rights play the highest role in dealing with problems related to women’s rights and violence against women. They raise awareness about the size of the problem, inform the public about the latest issues, and provide psychological and legal support to victims of domestic violence in Croatia.
What is an udruga?
An udruga is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement, usually as volunteers, to form an organization to accomplish a non-profit purpose.
State institutions should take the main responsibility for all the issues related to women’s rights. However, this is not the case in real life, leaving the biggest problems to the non-profits, whose missions, capacities, and funding can vary wildly. Most of them are situated in Croatian cities but often serve surrounding areas as well.
Although feminist NGOs have a mutual goal, some are focused on a specific action or objective. Their common struggle is funding. Finances directly impact their work, projects’ scope, and capacities to help women.
Most women’s non-profit associations actively accept volunteers. Every bit of help has a measurable impact on those most in need. Volunteering is a great way to get to know your Croatian community as well as develop new skills and grow as a person.
Let us introduce you to wonderful Croatian non-profit organizations in the field of women’s rights. Support their work in any way, for a safer life and future for us all.
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The facts are these…
Croatian non-profits focusing on women’s rights
Women’s rights non-profits in Križevci, Croatia
#1 HERA
HERA is a non-profit organization that educates the public about domestic violence, encourages women’s creativity, and raises awareness of current problems. HERA organizes round tables, training, workshops, and lectures, and provides help to women. Within their projects, they publish fantastic informative brochures related to their field of work, available here.
SOS phone: +385 (0)48 711 077
E-mail: info@udruga-hera.info
Women’s rights non-profits in Rijeka, Croatia
#1 PaRiter
PaRiter promotes human rights and the culture of nonviolence, including feminist topics. PaRiter manages a website Hopa cupa with a variety of content focused on contraception and health education, and Znaj znanje where you can find scientifically-based information on the termination of pregnancy. They organize a radio show about gender equality available on MixCloud.
Phone: +385 (0)92 391 5959
E-mail: udrugapariter@gmail.com
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
#2 LORI
LORI is a lesbian organization that stands for the acceptance of sexual and gender minorities, the elimination of homo/bi/transphobia, and the realization of equality. They raise awareness through participation in round tables, lectures, and TV and radio shows related to the rights of sexual and gender minorities and women’s rights.
[Read: Non-Profit LGBTQIA+ Organizations in Croatia including LORI]
Phone: +385 (0)51 212 186
E-mail: loricure@yahoo.com
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Women’s rights non-profits in Slavonski Brod, Croatia
#1 Brod
Udruga Brod is a group focused on women’s rights, suppression of violence against women, self-employment, and social entrepreneurship. Brod offers legal advice, provides free shelter for victims of domestic violence, and organizes public events like street actions and lectures.
[Read: How to report domestic violence in Croatia]
Phone: +385 (0)35 449 180
E-mail: udruga.brod1@gmail.com
Women’s rights non-profits in Split, Croatia
#1 Domine, Split
Domine is a non-profit organization focused on promoting women’s rights and encouraging the development of society. One of their main events is Noćni marš in Split, a march that is held on International Women’s Day (March 8) in honor of all women and the promotion of their rights. In addition, they have a counseling center giving free psycho-social support to women victims of domestic violence.
[Read: Udruga Domine: Women’s NGO from Split]
Phone: +385 (0)21 537 272; +385 (0)21 344 688; +385 (0)99 6022 265
E-mail: domine@domine.hr; udrugadomine@gmail.com
#2 Femina
Femina supports women of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds through various entrepreneurial initiatives that strengthen female entrepreneurship and focus on socially disadvantaged groups. They aim to build a center for supporting women to open and lead their businesses and nurture their personal development. Femina’s board member Mirela Petrović is one of the panelists of our Women’s Month 2023.
Phone: +385 (0)91 622 3304
E-mail: office@femina.eu.com
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Women’s rights non-profits in Vukovar, Croatia
#1 Udruga žena Vukovar
Udruga žena Vukovar is a feminist organization that focuses on women’s rights, democratic society, civil activism, and the involvement of marginalized groups in the social development of local communities. Through their Klub osoba treće dobi (Third-age people club), they encourage active aging, solidarity between generations, and volunteering of retired people. Every afternoon, women can come to the club and socialize by using the fitness equipment, computers, library, and playing board games. More information is available here.
Phone: +385 (0)32 421 191
E-mail: udruga.zena@vukovar.tcloud.hr
Women’s rights non-profits in Zagreb, Croatia
#1 BaBe!
BaBe! – Budi aktivna. Budi emancipiran. (Be active, be emancipated.) fights against violence against women and promotes gender equality and equal opportunities for everyone through legal and psychological support, counseling, and accommodation in a safe house. BaBe! is one of the most prominent women’s organizations in Croatia. They often declare specific events related to violence against women and criticize the irregularities of the system through the media to make the public aware of the problem’s depth.
Phone: +385 (0)1 4663 666
E-mail: babe@babe.hr
Web site | Facebook | Instagram
#2 CESI
CESI – Centar za edukaciju, savjetovanje i istraživanje (Center for education, consulting, and research) is a feminist organization that fights for the improvement of the social position of women and sexual and gender equality. It was founded by activists of female and peace initiatives who had experience with women victims of war. CESI participates in seminars, conferences, and donor actions and issues publications that raise awareness on human rights, available here.
Phone: +385 (0)1 24 22 800
E-mail: cesi@cesi.hr
Website | Facebook | Instagram
#3 Centar za ženske studije (CMS)
CMS – Centar za ženske studije (Centre for Women’s Studies) is an educational center founded by feminists, theorists, scholars, artists, and peace activists. Their most significant program is Ženski studiji (Women’s Studies), a unique two-semester study program with a focus on women’s rights and activism. Qualified professors teach students to think, analyze, discuss, and write about feminist theories and practices. The study gathers about 30 participants annually. Read more about this study here.
CMS manages the Memorial apartment of Marija Jurić Zagorka, a writer and the first Croatian female journalist and political activist, and one of the most-read Croatian writers. In the apartment, they organize informative, educational, and cultural activities related to Zagorka’s heritage and female creativity. Read more about this here.
[Read: Notable women in Croatian history (Part 1) including Marija Jurić Zagorka]
Phone: +385 (0)1 4872 406
E-mail: zenstud@zenstud.hr
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
#4 fAKTIV
A feminist collective fAKTIV fights for women’s labor, social rights, reproductive, and sexual rights, and against gender-based violence against women. fAKTIV loudly and harshly speaks against social and economic inequality, fascism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, clericalization and militarization of society, censorship, and abolition of the freedom of speech. Their most significant event is Night March, annually held on March 8 with a different slogan focused on a particular problem.
E-mail: feministicki.kolektiv.faktiv@gmail.com
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
#5 Fierce Women
Fierce Women is a social enterprise known for an educational card game of the same name – Fierce Women, which promotes women’s contributions to the world society. Each card has an illustration and a short description of a notable woman who contributed to the world in a specific way. This game is an extraordinary present, so if you want to give away a special gift to someone, order it here.
Fierce Women was a 2022 Women’s Month winner.
E-mail: hello@fierce-women.net
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Fierce women game was developed earlier within the association K-zona, the initiator of the Croatian non-profit website VoxFeminae which publishes content related to feminism, women’s rights, and notable Croatian women. As a part of the initiative, they annually organize a Vox Feminae Festival.
E-mail: info@voxfeminae.net
Website | Facebook | Instagram
#6 Sofija
Sofija manages a national campaign for the empowerment, protection, and promotion of women. We as individuals often deceive ourselves with the thought our voice won’t be heard and that it means nothing. Sofija is led by the thought that everyone will prosper if they get an equal chance in their lives. Through education and awareness programs, this association points out how everyone’s voice is important and that we can achieve big goals easier as a group.
E-mail: info@sofija.hr
Website | Facebook | Instagram
#7 Solidarna
Solidarna (solidary) is a foundation focused on human rights solidarity, with an emphasis on women’s rights and gender equality. Solidarna established the Fond za žene (Croatian Women’s Fund) with the purpose of building an equal community where even the most vulnerable members would have satisfied basic life needs and the possibility to realize their potential.
The fund helps women victims of domestic and sexual violence and gives mentoring and financial support in ensuring reproductive health and female entrepreneurship. More information is available here.
Phone: +385 (01) 5544 722
E-mail: info@solidarna.hr
Website | Facebook | Instagram
#8 Ženska mreža Hrvatske
Ženska mreža Hrvatske (Croatian Women’s Network) is a confederation of organizations, groups, and initiatives whose field of work is women’s rights. You can view their members here. In order to protect the rights of women, they inform the public about current issues and organize events and protests.
Phone: +385 (0)1 4551 142
E-mail: zenskamrezahrvatske@gmail.com
“We are the granddaughters of the witches you weren’t able to burn.” – Tish Thawer
View our other women’s support posts
- Domestic abuse in Croatia according to the Law
- Entrepreneur groups for women in Croatia
- Expat in Croatia celebrates Women’s Month 2023
- How to report domestic violence in Croatia
- Realities of Domestic Abuse in Croatia
- Shelters and Counseling Centers in Croatia
- Udruga Domine: Women’s NGO from Split
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
