STAR Network Croatia

Exploiting the world’s growing openness and interconnectedness, human trafficking is one of the most pernicious and elusive facets of organized crime in the Balkans. In response to the trafficking crisis, STAR Network of World Learning launched three related projects:

1. the Bosnia-Herzegovina Anti-Trafficking Community Mobilization (BATCOM), from 2002-2006;
2. the Croatia Trafficking Prevention Activity (CTPA), from 2004-2006, and
3. the Regional Anti-trafficking Mobilization for Prevention (RAMP), from 2006-2007.

BATCOM and RAMP were funded by Zonta International Foundation and CTPA was funded by USAID.

CTPA worked in Croatia to maximize effective collaboration between local NGOs and the Croatian Government to raise awareness at the community, national, and cross-border levels about issues of trafficking in persons. BATCOM and CTPA together undertook cross-border initiatives that helped create effective linkages between communities and NGOs, and between law enforcement officials on both sides of the BH-Croatian border.

The project drew heavily on the lessons learned from STAR Network’s experience in local and regional anti-trafficking activity. The most important of those lessons was that successful anti-trafficking efforts in a country of transit require the joint, vigorous commitment of government -- whose branches work together to apprehend, prosecute, and convict traffickers -- and a strong support network of local citizens and NGOs, especially those along the borders.

CTPA’s two-pronged approach sought to raise awareness within local communities of the risks of trafficking and also educate officials such as border police judges and government ministers in order to give them the skills and knowledge to stop trafficking.

Women strive for economic equality in Croatia.

A series of economic forums led by women in eight communities are currently examining women's status and opportunities in order to strengthen local and municipal support for economic development and policy action. In order to maximize local perspectives, needs, resources and broad-based outreach to constituencies, women from a variety of sectors --government, trade unions, business, NGOs, media and political parties -- are participating in the planning process. Over the year 2001- 2002, forums and follow-up activities are taking place in Osijek, Pula/Porec, Rijeka, Split, Zagreb, Pakrac, Varazdin, and Dubrovnik.

The most innovative aspect of the forum planning process is building functional cooperation between women across sectors and opening new networks. As a result of each forum, participants from different professional and institutional backgrounds are joining forces to enhance local initiatives for women's economic empowerment and to identify all existing resources previously unknown to them. Local initiatives include new business incubators for women, bank credit lines, business training programs and self-employment initiatives.

Local Partners

Key local partners are the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Croatian Businesswomen's Association KRUG, the Institute for Public Finance and the Women's Section of the Trade Union Association.

Role of STAR Network

	U.S. study tour for Croatian women involved in Gender Equality Commission activities. The GEC Croatia is a driving force in women's political and economic empowerment.

In consultation with the Croatian members of the Advisory Board, local partners, and women experts from different sectors, World Learning STAR Network identifies pressing needs in each city in Croatia, facilitates the planning process, identifies women participants and provides training and technical assistance to each community for planning and implementation.

Recent Accomplishments

• Development of new publications (First Entrepreneurial Steps; Discrimination against Women in Croatia) with gender disaggregated data on women's economic status and how to improve it.
  

• Development of "Encouraging Women's Entrepreneurship" training program in Pula, Porec and Rijeka.
  

• Initiatives to include women in business incubators (BioIstra Porec and Porin Rijeka).
  

• Initiative to increase the number of women entrepreneurs receiving county sponsored business loans (Istria).
  

• Formation of the Split Women's Entrepreneurial Initiative, a network of organizations, institutions and individuals from government, civic and business sectors that coordinates already existing entrepreneurship programs and actions and develops new ones, improves the exchange of information and placement of information toward end users.
  

• Lobbying Zagrebacka Banka to get the first commercial credit line specifically for women-owned businesses.
  

• Lobbying the Croatian Guarantee Agency to create guarantee fund for women-owned business start-ups (since women have little collateral to guarantee credits).
  

• A series of workshops on growing and marketing healthy food, aimed to stimulate new businesses for women in Pakrac.
  

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