Zagreb - Numerous lawmakers on Tuesday backed an initiative by the parliamentary Gender Equality Committee marking the National Day Against Violence Towards Women, observed on 22 September, leaving red palm prints on a white canvas to symbolically declare: "Stop violence against women."
"With this action... we wanted to give a voice to all victims. No woman deserves to suffer violence and I call on all those experiencing any form of abuse to report it, as well as neighbours and friends who know of women facing violence not to remain silent," said Marija Lugarić (Social Democratic Party), who chairs the committee.
"Don't allow any woman to be left alone. Our legislation is well designed, but violence happens behind closed doors. We must do more every day to raise awareness and to empower women, telling them they don't have to endure it," she added.
Speaker Gordan Jandroković also expressed support, recalling the 1999 killing of three women at Zagreb Municipal Court. "That was a drastic example of violence against women and a reminder of what the state must do to minimise such cases." He noted that parliament last year passed three laws to strengthen protection for women, but added that "without broader engagement from society it will not be enough."
"Unfortunately, violence against women remains a serious social problem. Each of us has a duty to contribute, in our own way, to reducing it. Respect towards mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and female colleagues, speaking openly about the issue and supporting institutions that protect women are crucial. Eradicating this problem will take time, stronger institutions and personal commitment," Jandroković said.
Stipe Mlinarić (Homeland Movement) said a slap was not love, and turning a blind eye to violence was cowardice. "There is no love where it manifests as violence... Current data show that 83% of women and 17% of men experience abuse. I condemn all violence, and the state must combat it in every form."
Marijana Puljak (Centre) called the fact that one in four women suffers abuse from their partner devastating. "This shows that institutions must act faster, more efficiently and more decisively, with no leniency towards perpetrators. We have good laws, but we fail in implementation, judicial practice and the lenient sentencing of offenders."
She also highlighted the importance of prevention and education from early childhood. "Every girl and woman must know she is protected and not alone when she experiences violence. Today's figures suggest that is not the case."
Anka Mrak Taritaš (GLAS) said "the grim numbers keep rising year after year," noting that a woman is subjected to violence in Croatia every 15 minutes, and that the country ranks third among EU members for femicides relative to population.
She said that in 2024, 18 women were killed in Croatia, nine of those cases treated as femicide. In the first six months of this year, police recorded 18 homicides, of which 10 victims were women and in seven cases the perpetrators were their intimate partners. "Institutions are failing at every level. Beyond insufficiently harsh sentences and tolerance of gender-based violence, we are especially failing in education."
Rada Borić (We Can!) drew attention to the growing prevalence of digital abuse against women, including insults, threats, objectification and the sharing of private content. She said changes to the Criminal Code should ensure protection against all forms of online violence.