Rijeka Festival of Menstruation spotlights reproductive health care policies

The fourth Rijeka Festival of Menstruation, organized by the civil‑society group Pariter, took place from 9‑12 July 2026 across multiple venues in Rijeka, Croatia. The festival’s theme, “Care policies”, examined who receives bodily care, where it is provided and how societal responsibility for reproductive health is framed.

Program highlights included free‑entry lectures, workshops and artistic performances at the Child’s House, Tea Square, Marina Bottle, City Library, Filodrammatici, the SKC Gallery and Grčevo beach. Speakers such as festival producer Larisa Šimičić, Pariter coordinator Marija Trcol, activist Petra Čargonja and curator Ana Ptičar discussed topics ranging from routine gynaecological examinations to inter‑generational birth narratives. A free, illustrated guide on routine gynaecological checks was distributed, responding to recent concerns about patient rights and medical abuse.

Cultural events featured a drumming performance by FTF, the horror‑comedy premiere “The Cramps: A Period Piece”, a punk concert by Katarza, and the opening of the “Čekaonice” exhibition, which explored the tension between natural menstrual cycles and institutional time structures. The festival aimed to break taboos, foster public dialogue on bodily autonomy and promote inclusive, socially‑oriented health care.