The association said it had sent a formal request to Pusic in January seeking an audience with her to raise the problem of women raped in Vukovar during the Serb occupation of the town in 1991 and to ask her to push for the criminal prosecution of the perpetrators and ensure that the women in question were accorded the status of war victim. It received a response saying only that their request would be forwarded to the minister.

The association said that Pusic did not regard the issue of raped women as an issue of justice and human rights nor had she shown women's solidarity and understanding for the horrors the raped women had been through.

"These days you show your support and understanding for the rights of the gay population, and you accept criticism from the international community over the freedom to express sexual orientation, finding time to personally participate in the (Gay Pride) parade in Split. By advocating human rights while at the same time ignoring the rights of women who are victims of the war crime of rape, you commit violence against democracy and you discriminate, which is contrary to a genuine commitment to the dignity of all," the letter said.

The association said that the absence of justice and the ignoring of war crimes by people appointed to senior government positions was not the way to promote tolerance and freedom for all, but that it was a show of political power.