Croatian Protest Against Pro Women Treaty

Thousands of Croatians have rallied in central Zagreb against a European agreement designed to protect women, saying it threatens traditional values.

They object to the Istanbul Convention on the basis that it would legitimise same-sex marriage and improve rights for transgender people.

Women's rights groups staged a counter-protest along the route of the march.

They pointed out that polls suggest two-thirds of Croatians support the convention.

That is despite the rise of the far right - including revisionist views of Nazi rule - since Croatia joined the EU in 2013.

Parliament has not yet ratified the convention but it has been approved by the centre-right government - prompting dissent from within its own ranks, conservative groups and the Catholic Church.

Church organisations have demanded a referendum on ratification, despite polls which suggest the majority of Croatians support the treaty.

Neighbouring Serbia, Bosnia and Slovenia have already ratified it, but it has been rejected by Bulgaria and Slovakia.