Croatia - 01/01/2024 - Local level

• The implementation of special measures shall promote equal participation of women and men in legislative, executive and judicial bodies, including public services, and gradually increase the involvement of the underrepresented sex so that its representation reaches the level of its share in the total population of Croatia. In order to achieve this goal, special measures shall be introduced when the representation of one sex is significantly unbalanced. A significant imbalance of one sex exists if the representation of one sex in political and public decision-making bodies is lower than 40%. When appointing local and regional self-government units and other legal entities with public authority to state bodies and bodies, a balanced representation of both sexes must be taken into account. When appointing members of diplomatic missions, members of committees, commissions and delegations representing the Republic of Croatia at the international level, state bodies shall take into account the balanced representation of women and men. (Gender equality act, article 12)
• When determining and proposing the list of candidates for election to the Croatian parliament, for election of members of representative bodies of local and regional self-government units as well as for election of members to the European parliament, political parties and other authorized nominators shall respect the principle of gender equality and ensure the balanced representation of women and men on the electoral lists in accordance with article 12 of this act. In order to implement paragraph 1 of this article, political parties and other authorized nominators shall establish special measures when determining electoral lists in such a way that the representation of men and women on electoral lists in the Croatian parliament, members of representative bodies of local and regional self-governments, and members of the European parliament is not significantly unbalanced. A gradual increase in the underrepresented sex must be achieved no later than during the third regular elections from the day the Gender equality act enters into force [15 July 2008]. (Gender equality act, article 15)