| Popis: |
Gender equality advancements have been far from straightforward in Croatia in Slovenia since both countries gained independence in the beginning of the 1990s. With an aim of presenting gender dynamics in Slovenia and Croatia in the past three decades, the paper focuses on constitutional issues relating to reproductive rights (abortion and medically assisted reproduction) and the definition of marriage and parenthood. While the two ex-socialist countries cannot be treated as entirely alike in terms of constitutional developments in the area despite their geographical and historical proximity, one can identify significant similarities in the gender equality agendas progressions and regressions. The paper discusses crucial moments in the constitutional development that shaped the constitutional (and societal) position of women and sexual minorities in the area of reproductive health, marriage and parenthood. The paper is divided into three main parts that reflect three different periods of evolvement: (1) the breakup of the SFRY and constitutional developments in the 1990s, (2) the EU accession period and (3) populism and anti-gender activism. Building mostly on constitutional courts’ case law as well as on legal and sociological research, the paper shows how different variables influenced the human rights advancements and backslides, leaving the fight for full gender equality in the discussed legal area unfinished. |
