Since the beginning of 2025, 15 women have been murdered in Croatia, 11 of whom were killed by intimate partners, warned the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality Višnja Ljubičić on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, emphasizing that we urgently need systemic changes.
Expressing concern about the continued rise in the number of femicide cases, she stressed that the social climate is conducive to violence because force, aggression and competitiveness dominate, rather than dialogue and solidarity. This, she said, further encourages gender-based violence and femicide. "The trends in gender-based and domestic violence have not significantly deviated from previous years, and in terms of femicide, they have even worsened," she said.
She pointed out that femicide is one of the most predictable forms of murder, with clearly identifiable patterns and triggers, and that the system must be able to react in a timely manner. Through Femicide Watch, which the Ombudsperson leads within the Monitoring Body for Comprehensive Monitoring, Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting on Cases of Femicide, she regularly warns the police about shortcomings in interventions and risk assessments.
Ombudsperson Ljubičić notes that in light of the ratified Istanbul Convention There is a continuous initiative by the legislator towards amendments to the legislative framework and stricter penalties for gender-based violence.
She stated that one of the main problems with the system of protection against gender-based and domestic violence is that legal changes are not accompanied by systematic data collection, in-depth analyses, or expert strategic documents that would ensure their implementation. She added that laws are most often changed only after serious cases of violence or murder of women, when the public exerts strong pressure on politicians.
The Ombudsperson pointed out that Croatia lacks a systematic approach to education on gender equality, gender-based violence and its early prevention. The lack of education for children and professional services such as the police, judiciary and state attorney's office is particularly noticeable.
The consequences of such a situation, confirmed in the GREVIO report, have been warned about for years. The result of such a way of fighting gender-based violence is mostly low, often suspended sentences and further brutalization of violence.
It proposes changes aimed at reforming the entire system: a shift from merely punishing consequences to preventing the causes of violence through early intervention, education and training, as well as establishing quality and long-term psychosocial support for families before violent patterns escalate.
From 2015 to 2024, the growth of criminal offenses almost fivefold
The Ombudsperson says that deeply rooted patriarchal patterns in society create unequal power relations, which inevitably leads to higher rates of violence and discrimination against women. Relevant data, she points out, clearly shows that women continue to bear the brunt of these injustices.
She warned that the number of criminal acts of domestic violence is continuously and significantly increasing. Compared to 2015, when 2.220 such criminal acts were recorded, last year there were as many as 9.167, she said.
In the period 2015-2024, the growth of criminal offenses almost fivefold, while the number of misdemeanor offenses of violent behavior in the family simultaneously and in the same period halved from almost 14 thousand in 2015 to under seven thousand last year.
Last year, the trend first recorded in 2023 continued, when for the first time since statistics on violence against women and between close people have been systematically monitored, a higher number of recorded criminal offenses than recorded misdemeanors were recorded. Domestic violence misdemeanors were recorded - 6.949, and criminal offenses between close people - 9.167.
The Ombudsperson points out that long-term trends show what she has been warning about for a long time: the system for combating violence against women and in the family is not focused on prevention, education and eliminating the causes of violence, but almost exclusively on punishing the consequences.
She emphasizes that the majority of violence against women is still committed by people close to them, and that many women are killed precisely after trying to leave an abusive relationship. This, she says, is a serious warning that urgent and systemic changes are needed.
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is being marked on Tuesday, the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality Višnja Ljubičić warns of the devastating consequences of sexual violence and the insufficiently effective response of the system. Of particular concern are the high "dark figures" - numerous cases that are not reported or remain unprocessed. Victims are often exposed to prejudice and stigmatization, which is why some of them decide to report anonymously, especially in cases of sexual harassment. Rape, as the most severe form of sexual violence, leaves long-lasting and severe consequences.
He believes that the punishments are too light, the procedures too long and that this further undermines the trust of the victims in the system, which is why radical and urgent changes are necessary.
Ljubičić also warned about the growth of gender-based cyberbullying.
Photo: HINA/Dario Grzelj
