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An Analysis of Croatian Media Coverage of the Ratification of the Istanbul Convention in the Context of Reporting on Women’s Rights

Violence against women is the most common form of violation of women’s rights [1]. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) [2] is based on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is committed against women because they are women. According to the World Health Organization data, it is estimated that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives, while some national studies show that up to 70% of women have experienced it [3]. According to the Annual Report for 2018 of the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality of the Republic of Croatia, and according to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, in 2018 78% out of 10, 272 persons reported for domestic violence were men [4]. It is the obligation of the state to fully address this problem in all its forms and to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect the victims and prosecute the perpetrators. In Croatia in 2018 the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which primary goal is to improve and enhance mechanisms for the protection of women victims of violence, provoked strong reactions and discussion among citizens. The media had a key role in informing citizens about the Convention and generally about the issue of protecting the women’s rights, and in forming the public opinion about the role and the consequences of the Convention. By designing and framing the published information, media can influence public awareness in a positive or negative way. The main objective of the research is to point out biased media coverage of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Croatia on six Croatian most popular online media portals. The task is to determine their method of reporting, what issue or problem journalists set in the focus of the article, how they framed the story, from which political discourse they reported about it (conservative or liberal), which sources they have used, and did they present different standpoints about the ratification. The task is to determine whether journalists have advocated particular political views and concerns when reporting about it. In addition, the task is to investigate how these selected portals reported on women and their rights in the context of the ratification process of the Convention. The first thesis was that the selected portals were biased in reporting because they took a stand for or against the ratification. The second thesis was that the reports were superficial, lack information, and without a comprehensive analysis of the causes and the effects of the ratification. Research methods used in the articles analysis are quantitative and qualitative content analysis, and discourse analysis. In the period from March 13th to April 13th 2018, the day when Istanbul Convention was voted by the Croatian government, a total of 882 articles published on six most popular Croatian online media portals were analysed. An Analysis of Croatian Media Coverage of the Ratification of the Istanbul Convention in the Context of Reporting on Women’s Rights. The analysis confirmed the initial assumption that the Croatian most popular online media portals generally did not address the legal, social and economic aspects of the Convention and its implementation, but only conflicts over its ratification. Most attention in the coverage journalists devoted to the reporting of political statements and politicians insulting one another or calling for commitment or opposition to the ratification. The first thesis is partially confirmed. While a significant number of sensationalist headlines were present, portals maintained a certain dose of neutrality in reporting. Shorter news and press conference reports generally did not convey which side the portal supported. On the other hand, by the choice of op-ed authors and the way they express their personal opinion about the issue, the analysis could clearly distinguish which online media portal is in favour of ratifying the Istanbul Convention, and which it opposes. The second thesis is confirmed. A very small percentage of articles can be considered instructive in the sense that it informs the reader in a complete and neutral way about the changes that will occur by the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. Most articles are devoted to political altercations and conflicts in the public regarding the ratification of the document, and part of the analysed portals does not contain any wider explanation, background or analysis in the text. One-sided sources were used in the majority of articles. Almost no article helped raising awareness and sensitizing the audience to the needs of abused women or the importance of the Convention for improvement the living conditions of victims of domestic violence.

Ratification of the Istanbul Convention, media coverage, online media, Croatia

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