Conference on: Family Values and their link to Economic Well-Being and Social OutcomesJune 30 – July 1, 2014, Geneva, Switzerland

in the name

Session III: Marriage and Family Policy in the West - where do we go from here?

CROATIA: Referendum on marriage

Dražen Vukotić

of the family

20 years later...

•20-th anniversary of the International Year of the Family

•Is family more protected than before?•Is marriage more protected than before?•Are family values empowered?•...

Present situation

• Lack of social support for marriage• All elements of the common structure of

marriage are under attack• Emphasizing sexual preferences • What will happen to marriage and family in

the next 20 years?• We decided to protect the stucture of

marriage through constitutional amendment!

CROATIA

CROATIA – brief introduction

• Located in South East Europe• Joined the EU a year ago• Totalitarian past: 45 years of communism• War for independence: 1991-1995

• Population: 4,2 Million • Voters: 3,8 Million• Religion: 95% declaring religious, • 87% declaring as Catholic

Social context

• Media is controlled by the ruling party• Imposing redefinition of social values, culture

and identity• Abolishing fundamental principles of

democracy – imposing an ideology of a small and aggressive group on the majority of people

Political context

• Representatives of the ruling coalition expressed their intentions in the media to legalize same-sex parenting and adoption by the end of their mandate

• In May 2012, prime minister Milanović announced changes in legislation toward „marriage equality” drawing a parallel to the laws on marriage in Spain and Portugal

Political context

• A strong majority still against same-sex marriage

• Legalization of same-sex marriage through a separate law – the Law on registered partnership

• Same-sex couples get the same rights as in marriage union

Why a referendum?

• REFERENDUM– ensures that all citizens have a possibility to

participate in the creation of the policy– It becomes a correction to government policies– Puts a VETO on the policies with which citizens do

not agree• The first referendum initiated by citizens

Legal requirements for referendum in Croatia

Voters: 3,8 – 4,5 Millions● To organize a referendum we need a

minimum of 10% of voters and they have to give their name, ID number and signature within ONLY 15 days

● It's like 30 Millions signatures in USA!!!● They can sign the referendum request

only on registered locations approved by local government and police

In the name of the family has created a network of:

• NGOs – family organisations, professional organisations, war veteran organisations, religious, prayer groups, families and citizens;

• Religious communities in Croatia (all): Croatian Bishop Conference, Muslim, Orthodox, Jewish and all christian communities in Croatia

• Political parties – all invited - 20 parties gave their support

National and county networks of volunteers

• National coordination • County coordinations responsible for

registered locations• 6,000 volunteers organized to work in shifts at

2,000 registered locations• 60% of signatures collected at public locations

(street, markets, universities) and 40% in front of churches

Public relations – Raising awareness

• Organization of events, media conferences, publications

• Coordination of participation in TV, radio and other shows

• Preparation of volunteers for debates and presentations of arguments

• Preparation of videos, photos, public persons supporting marriage etc.

Public relations – Raising awareness • Web site: www.uimeobitelji.net• Facebook, Twiter, Google+ profile – using

social networks• Newsletters, posters, jumbo posters, flyers...

A struggle for family

• Marriage is an union between one woman and one man.

• Marriage is the foundation of a family• Every child, whenever possible, should be

raised by a mother and a father

A struggle for Democracy

Against us:● The whole government● President of the Republic of Croatia● Large sections of NGOs financed by the

government and acting as lobbyist groups● Most of the media including the national

public TV● 75% were against Referendum● 15% were neutral and ● 10% were in favor of the referendum● (percentage of published articles and pieces)

MARRIAGE = WOMAN + MANAnything else is something completely different

...more than 6.000 volunteers

...more than 2,000 locations for the collection of signatures

...more than 50 reports to the police because of the violent attacks on volunteers

...more than 750.000 citizens have signed a request for referendum

Submission of 750 000 signatures June 14, 2013

A marriage referendum December 1,2013

• Results: – 66% (946 433 voters) YES, – 34% NO

• Turnout: 38%– (Referendum on joining the EU with backed by all political

parties, all the media, NGO-s, the Church,... – the turnout was merely 43%)

• Of 128 Croatian cities: – 120 voted for marriage as a union between a woman and

a man, – 8 voted against

Referendum on marriage December 1, 2013

• Paragraph 61. of the Croatian Constitution: „Marriage is a lifetime union of one woman and one man.”

But the governmentstill doesn't give up...

• Although there are no results in raising production and GDP, in decreasing unemployment and emigration or stopping the depopulation rates, the government still insists (only) on:– New „Law on Registered Partnership” instead of

„same sex marriage”– „Vital Records Act” – anyone can change their gender

simply by signing a paper before a notary public– Almost anybody can adopt a child or qualify for in

vitro fertilization– Gender ideology

What we would have in next 20 years?

• If we don’t act together on preserving family values, supporting marriage as a life union between a woman and a man we will experience:– More generations which will not care about family

values– More divorced marriages– More dysfunctional families and unhappy individuals– New types of relationships which would demand to be

recognized by law– Unhappy and unviable society

Thank you!

in the nameof the family