Thousands march in opposition to abortion in Zagreb

Thousands of anti-abortion activists marched in the annual Walk for Life in Zagreb on Saturday.

"We expect and the demand that the right to life be regulated by law. The right to live must be protected,” said Kristina Kolovrat, a member of the organizing committee for the march.

Prompted by the recent case of an abandoned newborn in a trash bin in Zaprešić, Kolovrat said activists are asking the government to enact a policy that would allow women to give birth anonymously if they choose to do so.

The organizers of the Walk for Life have expanded to fifteen Croatian cities in recent years, with events taking place on different weekends.

"We gathered here today to peacefully stand up for some of our values. We are not against anyone. We support families, our country, all of the values we uphold," a woman marcher told Croatian Radio.

Pro-choice activists staged a counter protest with group of drummers drowning out the noise of the marchers.

Several hundred pro-life marchers also walked in Vinkovci on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a petition drive for reproductive rights has started across Europe, including in Croatia. The initiative is called My voice - My choice and it stands for the right to legal, accessible and safe abortion. Signatures were being collected this morning in Poreč. The petition can also be signed online.

"We are very pleasantly surprised with the response. Many of our citizens came out to sign the petition,” said Nataša Vajagić from the Center for Civic Initiatives in Poreč.

Activists are amplifying their on-line petition on Saturday as a form of counter-protest to the Walk for Life event in Zagreb. They are hoping to get 10 thousand signatures in one day.

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