WEB engleska verzija end.indd - UNDP Croatia

CHAPTER 3THE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED3.6.1 Human RightsIn Croatia, single-parent families are at a relatively highrisk of falling into poverty (Šućur, 2006). According tothe 2001 census, single parents account for 20.5%of Croatian families. Of that, 83% are single-motherfamilies (156,038), and 17% (31,965) are single-fatherfamilies. In contrast to many European countries,Croatia does not allocate special assistance to singleparents as an independent category in the family andsocial policy (Puljiz i Zrinščak, 2002.).Human rights violations against single parents andtheir children tend to concern their right to enjoya minimum standard of living, although there havealso been reports of discrimination in the work placewhich has denied single-parents job opportunitiesand promotions. In 2002, research was conducted toevaluate the average standard of living in Croatiansingle-parent homes in the four largest Croatiantowns (Raboteg-Šarić, Pećnik and Josipović, 2003).The UNDP also conducted research (2006a) with 113single parents from both urban and rural environments.93 The results of the research demonstratedthat a minimum standard of living necessary for thehealth, well-being, and the optimum development ofthe child, is enjoyed less often in single parent familiesas opposed to two-parent families. Most singleparent households in Croatia are worse off financiallythan dual parent households. Single parents tend tohave greater difficulty finding suitable housing, lowerearnings per family member, 94 greater difficultiesproviding basic necessities, 95 and no resources to payfor their children’s leisure-time activities or summerholidays.Figure 7 illustrates the level of basic economic, socialand cultural deprivation that single parent familiessuffer from, and occasionally dual parent families aswell. Compared to dual parent families, single parentsexpress a greater dissatisfaction with their standardof living, health, and social life (Raboteg-Šarić et al.,2003; UNDP, 2006a). Data regarding the quality oflife of single parent families indicates that children inthese families are not afforded the same advantagesand opportunities for education and development aschildren from dual parent households. Financial difficulties,as the single greatest problem facing singleFigure 7: Share of parents from single-parent (N=113) and two-parent families (N=2191) who cannot affordvarious goodsmeal withmeat /fish every other dayheating at homenew clothesnew furniture8.210.115.514.621.826.438.752.1washing machine1.55.316.1PCautomobilehaving friends over once a monthone-week holiday oitside home913.630.14029.455.173.30 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Single-parent family two parent familySource: UNDP (2006).”Research on Social Exclusion in Croatia: Quality of Life and Risk of Social Exclusion”. UNDP, Zagreb, Croatia93 In both studies, the parents took care of at least one child under 18.7294 The median of the equivalent income of single-mother households is 1,923 HRK, which is lower than the amount stated by single fathers(2,692 HRK).95 One in four single-mother households and one in ten single-father households did not have enough money for food the previous year(UNDP, 2006a).