CAUW - Croatian Association of University Women DHI-
Društvo hrvatskih intelektualki
The Croatian Association of University
Women (CAUW) is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-party and
non-profit association of university graduate women, established
in 1992 Društvo hrvatskih intelektualki (DHI) on the occasion
of the aggression on Croatia. In 1995 the Association became
a regular member of International Federation of University
Women (IFUW). In 1996 it also became a member of University
Women of Europe (UWE). Its members actively promote ethical,
cultural, national and universal human values. The headquarters
are in Zagreb and the branches in other cities of Croatia.
We are committed to:
- the promotion of peace and tolerance
- the recognition and protection of human rights
- the improvement of the social, economic, professional, educational
and family status of women
- the participation of women in public
life and development of national and international understanding,
cooperation and friendship
Who can join:
Any woman with a recognized degree or equivalent qualification
from a university or institution of comparable academic standing
can become a CAUW member.
National activities:
- We try to represent Croatia as an independent and democratic
country that respects human rights.
- We collect documentation about the violation of human
rights during the aggression on Croatia and help in rebuilding
a normal and tolerant life.
- We cooperate with the members of IFUW, UWE and other
similar associations.
Local activities:
- We collected the testimonies of many refugees and prisoners
of Serbian camps about the human rights violations and war
convention violations during the aggression on Croatia.
- We organized an exhibition displaying the rich and various
well-documented 5-year works of the Association. A large
part of the exhibition was taken by the handwork of refugee
women done under the professional guidance of CAUW members.
 |
 |
Documents exhibited in the Old City Hall. |
Exhibited handwork with dr.Jelka
Radauš Ribaric,
leader of the project. |
- We organized different kinds of art exhibitions, charities,
cultural programmes, concerts to celebrate Mother's
Day, important anniversaries, book promotions, etc.
- During and after the war our members were engaged in special
programmes according to their specific professional knowledge:
psychologists in helping groups of refugees in their psycho-social
reintegration; teachers in working with the refugees’ children,
ethnologists in the handicraft work therapy. The rich handicraft
tradition was thus revived (embroidery, crochet-work, gold embroidery
and needlepoint lace from the island of Pag). photos
of various handicraft
- We were engaged in the post-war housing reconstruction
of our country. We also helped in solving other social
or personal problems, particularly in providing expert psychological
help
to people suffering from some kind of war trauma or loss
of their loved ones.
- In the post-war period we provided assistance
in actions
undertaken to solve problems of veterans and mine victims.
We still support and take part in the activities connected
with
the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines, left behind
in a great number on a large area of land.
 |
Concert to celebrate Mother`s
Day.
|
International activities:
In order to testify the truth about the aggression on Croatia,
the members of CAUW attended meetings and conferences
organized by women associations worldwide, and those organized
by the UN in particular. There they came in contact with many
other women committed to the restoration of peace. One of them
was Dr. Marion Mathieson who was credited for helping CAUW to
become a member of IFUW.
After joining IFUW and UWE, members of CAUW took an active part
in different manifestations of these federations, especially
by attending the annual UWE and triennial IFUW Conferences. We
tried to give our contribution to this well-organized international
scene during and after the war. We especially appreciated personal
contacts that have evolved into friendships. Unfortunately we
didn't have enough financial support to attend all the activities
that were organized by UWE and IFUW. The following lines describe
this work in the chronological order.
| 1995 - 1999 | 2000
- 2002 | 2003 - 2005 |
|
