Violence against women in the region is alarming. What to do when you witness it

In recent days, much has been said about the campaign Till Death Do Us Part, carried out in eight countries of the region: Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, in cooperation with women’s centres, organisations and safe houses from across the region, with the aim of speaking openly about femicide, without softening or disguising the reality. The campaign began in early November with a performance at the N.EON gallery, whose central element was a black wedding dress designed by Marija Tarlać. “However much we may believe that weddings are symbols of love and happiness, the experiences of women who have survived violence show that many of them first experience violence during their wedding or immediately after it. The black wedding dress in this campaign is not a provocation, but a call to open our eyes to a reality in which the majority of women die at the hands of their current or former partner,” said Vanja Macanović of the Autonomous Women’s Center at the time. Ironically, during the campaign itself, yet another woman was killed in a fit of rage – by the gun of her ex-boyfriend. Another one who didn’t manage to escape.

Violence against women happens all around us, far too often and far too quietly. It is real, insidious and wears many masks. From those that seem “benign” and insulting, through a wide range of different forms of physical violence, all the way to the most tragic outcomes such as the one Aldina Jahić suffered in Mostar the other day. When that happens, the system is examined all over again, there is collective mourning, and the same questions hang in the air once more: what could we, as a society, have done to prevent this? For one of us, it is already too late. Even if it is not happening to you personally, it is chilling to think that it is happening to another woman, powerless in the face of the will and decisions of an ex or current partner (or, at times, someone who is not a partner at all). We need to speak about femicide loudly and persistently, long enough to prevent any kind of relativisation in our still patriarchal society. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is officially marked on 25 November, but neither that day nor that month is enough. We need to talk about it all year round and next year, and the one after that as well.

Let this be a starting guide for all the questions you may have about violence against women and the first steps you need to take, whether it may be happening to you or to someone you know.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Statistics in BiH

“Criminal offences of violence in the family or family community have increased compared to previous years, in other words, women victims of violence are increasingly deciding to report violence and initiate proceedings before institutions,” says Marija Kaurin from the Foundation United Women for Vogue Adria, adding that “domestic violence is the most frequently reported criminal offence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The global problem of the killing of women does not bypass BiH either.” We also asked Marija about the statistics compared to previous years.

“According to statistical data, every fifth criminal offence relates to domestic violence. In more than 90 percent of cases the perpetrators of these offences are men. The statistical data covers the period from 2014 to the end of 2024. In Republika Srpska, according to the ‘clock of crime’ for 2023, one reported criminal offence of violence in the family or family community was committed every 6.5 hours. In more than 67 percent of these cases the victims were women.

When we talk about victims, wives, common-law partners and former partners come first, making up more than 50 percent of all victims, followed by mothers and daughters. The number of children of both sexes who are victims of domestic violence is also on the rise.

The dominant form of domestic violence is physical violence, but statistics also show an increased number of reports of psychological violence. Reports of sexual violence are rarer, which creates the impression that victims do not recognise this form of violence as a criminal offence or do not report it. The frequency and brutality of violence against women leads to femicide and points to systematic shortcomings in the institutional response to violence against women.”

How much protection do the laws in BiH provide to victims and are perpetrators actually sanctioned?

“In 2019 acts of violence in the family or family community were criminalised exclusively as criminal offences, which was a positive step. Before that, reports of domestic violence in Republika Srpska were mostly treated as misdemeanours. However, not all forms of violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are equally criminalised. Domestic violence is recognised as a criminal offence in the criminal legislation of Republika Srpska, the Federation of BiH and Brčko District BiH. Nevertheless, Brčko District still has a dual regulation of domestic violence, both as a criminal offence and as a misdemeanour.

In the last few years there has been a noticeable increase in the imposition of protection measures by the competent courts. In protecting victims of violence, timely issuing of emergency and protection measures is extremely important. The course and dynamics of criminal proceedings related to gender-based violence have not changed significantly, proceedings usually end in relatively short time frames, within one year. However, it is crucial that criminal offences of violence in the family or family community are processed as quickly as possible in order to ensure the safety and protection of the victim. Although laws on protection against domestic violence in both entities recognise the institution of a trusted person, criminal procedure laws have not been harmonised with this provision.” (Marija Kaurin, foundation Udružene žene)

How are perpetrators sanctioned?

“In more than 90 percent of cases, perpetrators are convicted of criminal offences of gender-based violence, but the sanctions are mostly lenient. Suspended sentences are still the most common sanction, and it is worrying that courts do not impose protective supervision alongside suspended sentences. At the state level it has been observed that courts consider the fact that the perpetrator is a ‘family man’, a father of one or more children, as a mitigating circumstance, even in cases where violence was committed against the children or in their presence.” (Marija Kaurin, foundation Udružene žene)

Who should someone turn to first when they or someone close to them is experiencing violence, and what are the first steps?

“In the past days our Foundation has once again highlighted the importance of the SOS helpline for help and support to victims of domestic violence through information meetings held in local communities. The aim was to empower women through conversation and to point to the possibilities and support of the SOS line. That is also our recommendation when a victim or someone they know is experiencing violence and wants to take the first step and obtain information about concrete next steps in their particular situation. The SOS number for Republika Srpska is 1264, and for the Federation of BiH it is 1265. Calls to the SOS helpline are free of charge, available 24/7 and can be anonymous. SOS lines are staffed by counsellors who are trained and sensitised when it comes to victims of domestic violence. Depending on the specific case, they will direct the caller to reporting procedures and procedures in the competent institutions and, if the caller expresses the need for psychological or legal assistance, they will refer her to legal and psychological support within our Foundation, which we provide to victims of domestic violence.” (Marija Kaurin, foundation Udružene žene)

List of shelters and safe houses in BiH

“Fondacija lokalne demokratije”, Sarajevo

Udruženje građana “Vive Žene”, Tuzla

Udruženje “Žene sa Une”, Bihać,

Udruženje građana “Medica”, Zenica

Udruženje “Žena BiH”, Mostar

“Budućnost”, Modriča

Udružene žene, Banja Luka

“Lara”, Bijeljina

“Žene s Une”, Bihać

Serbia

Statistics in Serbia

The situation in Serbia varies, and between 27,000 and 29,000 incidents of domestic and partner violence are reported each year. “In 2024 there were 27,211 reports, somewhat fewer than in the previous two years, but more than in the two years during the COVID-19 epidemic,” says Vanja Macanović, lawyer from the Autonomous Women’s Center, for Vogue Adria, adding that the data shows that in more than 70 percent of cases violence against women was reported. “In 90 percent of cases, perpetrators of violence against women were men, mostly current or former spouses, common-law or intimate partners (about 67 percent), as well as relatives (sons, grandsons, fathers, other relatives).”

What is the legal situation, how much protection does the law provide, what are the strengths and weaknesses?

“In Serbia, protection from domestic and partner violence is regulated at three levels, two preventive and one criminal. Preventive measures are prescribed by the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Family Law, while criminal liability is regulated by the Criminal Code. Under the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence the police are authorised to assess the risk of repeated violence and impose emergency protection measures: removal of the perpetrator from the house or apartment and a ban on contacting the victim, for a period of 48 hours, regardless of whether the victim wants this or not. The police are obliged to inform the prosecution and the social work centre about every report and every action taken. The prosecution then has 24 hours to decide whether to propose an extension of the emergency measure, and the court has the following 24 hours to decide on an extension to 30 days. Violation of emergency measures is punishable by up to 60 days in misdemeanour detention. These measures should be imposed on perpetrators in whom violence has just begun in order to prevent escalation. The problem arises when institutions wrongly assess the risk and impose such measures on persons who are high-risk and seriously dangerous.

The most important provisions of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence relate to mandatory institutional coordination. In every prosecutor’s office there are Groups for Coordination and Cooperation, which consist of a public prosecutor, a police officer for domestic violence and a representative of the social work centre. The groups must meet at least once every 15 days, review all new cases, reassess the risk and create a Protection Plan for the victim. Such a model exists only in the United Kingdom as well, but in a somewhat different form.

Since the introduction of this system in 2017 the number of women killed who had previously reported violence has decreased. Unfortunately, this number is increasing again, which undermines women’s trust that institutions will protect them after they report violence.

During emergency measures or after they expire, the victim, the prosecution or the social work centre may request protective measures under the Family Law, such as eviction of the perpetrator, moving the victim in, a ban on approaching the victim or their place of residence or work, and a ban on further harassment. These measures can last up to one year, and their violation is a criminal offence.

For perpetrators who do not stop the violence despite protective measures, or for those who commit serious forms of violence from the outset, criminal proceedings can be initiated. During the proceedings, pre-trial detention or a ban on approaching and communicating with the victim may be ordered. A criminal judgment may impose a security measure prohibiting the perpetrator from approaching the victim for up to three years.

A combination of preventive and criminal measures can protect women who have survived violence, but only if institutions do not treat violence as isolated incidents but as a pattern of behaviour by the perpetrator. Unfortunately, courts in Serbia still show leniency towards perpetrators, which often results in women and children paying with their lives, through the release of dangerous perpetrators from detention, acceptance of plea agreements even when there are new reports, and imposing house arrest on perpetrators of domestic violence.” (Vanja Macanović, lawyer, Autonomous Women’s Center)

How are perpetrators sanctioned in Serbia?

“Every year the police issue between 20,000 and 22,000 emergency protection measures lasting 48 hours, and in more than 90 percent of cases the court extends these measures for an additional 30 days. Of the total number of reports of violence in 2024, in 4,857 cases (17.8 percent) the prosecution considered that there was a grounded suspicion that the criminal offence of domestic violence had been committed. The courts convicted 1,990 perpetrators, mostly with suspended sentences. Unfortunately, courts rarely impose suspended sentences with protective supervision, and only a small number of judges impose a security measure prohibiting the perpetrator from approaching or contacting the victim alongside the suspended sentence.

As for data on reports of various forms of sexual violence against women, unfortunately there is no exact record of all cases reported to the police. Statistics exist only for cases in which the prosecution decided to initiate an investigation, and the number of such cases has been extremely low for years. In 2020 the prosecution handled a total of 411 cases of sexual violence and in 2023, 500 cases within criminal offences against sexual freedom. In 2024, out of a total of 440 cases, higher prosecutor’s offices conducted investigations in only 68 reports of the criminal offence of rape. A total of 25 perpetrators of rape were convicted, which is a negligibly small number of convictions for a country with more than 3 million women.” (Vanja Macanović, lawyer, Autonomous Women’s Center)

Who should someone turn to first when they or someone close to them is experiencing violence and what are the next steps?

“The state urges women to report violence, but cannot guarantee them complete safety after they report. That is why women’s organisations and SOS helplines have been advising for years that women first call a free SOS helpline run by women’s organisations (anonymously if needed). There, the risk is assessed, a safety plan is drawn up and the woman is given information on what she can expect from institutions, so that the report can be filed in a way that reduces danger.

The most dangerous moments for women who are experiencing violence are when they:

• report the violence
• inform the perpetrator that they will report him or leave
• initiate divorce or other proceedings
• put that decision into practice

In those moments the risk of serious injury or femicide is highest.

If the violence is happening at the moment of reporting, women are advised to call the police from a place where they are safe and out of the perpetrator’s reach so that their phone cannot be taken or smashed, which would increase the risk of serious injury.

When giving a statement to the police it is important to:

• mention all forms of violence, both current and past
• state previous injuries and visits to doctors, previous reports to the police, the social work centre, psychologists, psychiatrists, organisations
• state whether the perpetrator owns weapons (legally or illegally), whether he is a member of the security forces or in contact with weapons
• state whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• state whether he has threatened or attempted murder or suicide
• state whether minor children witnessed the violence
• mention whether court proceedings are under way (divorce, custody, property and so on)
• state whether the perpetrator is jealous and controls every aspect of her life

People who know a woman living with violence are also advised to first contact women’s organisations to get guidance on how to help in a way that does not increase the risk to the victim.

If someone reports violence without the victim’s consent, it is important to emphasise this to the institutions, because such a report increases the risk and requires particularly careful handling.” (Tanja Ignjatović, psychologist, Autonomous Women’s Center)

List of non-governmental organisations providing individual support to women who have survived male violence in Serbia

“Atina”, Citizens’ Association for Combating Human Trafficking and All Forms of Gender-Based Violence, Belgrade

Autonomous Women’s Center, Belgrade

Organisation for the protection of rights and support to women with disabilities, Belgrade

Roma Center for Women and Children “Daje”, Belgrade

Victimology Society of Serbia, Belgrade

Center for Women’s Support, Counselling for Legal and Psycho-social Assistance, Kikinda

Oaza sigurnosti, Kragujevac

Alternativni Krug, Kragujevac

Association Fenomena / SOS Kraljevo

Women’s Association “Peščanik”, Kruševac

Women for Peace, Leskovac

SOS Women’s Center Novi Sad

IZ KRUGA – VOJVODINA, organisation for support to women with disabilities, Novi Sad

Roma Association Novi Bečej, SOS helpline in minority languages, Novi Bečej

SOS in Roma and Serbian, Osvit, Niš

Center for Girls, Niš

Women’s Association Femina, Smederevska Palanka

Women’s Alternative, Sombor

Women’s Center Užice, SOS helpline for women with experience of violence in the family and in partner relationships, Užice

SOS helpline for support and assistance to women and children who have survived violence, Vranje

SOS helpline for women and children victims of violence, Vlasotince

Zrenjanin Educational Center, Zrenjanin

Roma Women’s Association Bujanovac, Bujanovac

Association Independent Women’s Center, Dimitrovgrad

Roma Women’s Association “Nada”, Aleksinac

IMPULS TUTIN, Tutin

The list of safe houses in Serbia can be found here.

Croatia

Statistics in Croatia

In the last ten years, 165 women have been killed in Croatia, and in 2025 alone there have already been 11 cases of femicide (18 in 2024, 9 in 2023 and 13 in 2022), begins the statistical overview for Vogue Adria by Karla Pudar, Executive Director of the SOLIDARNA Foundation, within which the Women’s Fund operates. “These are women who lost their lives at the hands of partners, former partners or close family members, most often in their own homes, the very place where they should be safest. These cases are not exceptions, but a reflection of a deeply rooted problem of gender-based violence and a serious institutional failure to recognise, prevent and sanction it.” According to available data, every third woman in Croatia experiences some form of violence during her lifetime, whether physical, psychological, sexual or economic. Data from Croatia also shows that for every reported case of domestic violence there are at least ten unreported ones, and for every reported case of sexual violence there are as many as fifteen unreported.

“Systematic silence, mistrust in institutions and the stigma women feel are the reasons why many never speak out, and those who do often do not receive adequate support,” Karla tells Vogue Adria, stressing that “femicide is not just a criminal act, it is the final point on a continuum of tolerance. Societies in which women are killed are not societies where ‘the system does not work’, but societies where violence is sufficiently normalised to survive all our silences.”

What is the legal situation in Croatia when it comes to protecting women from violence, and how much protection do those laws really provide?

“Croatia has a relatively solid legal framework when it comes to protecting women from violence. The Criminal Code clearly defines criminal offences of domestic violence, bodily injury, sexual violence and threats, while specific laws, the Act on Protection from Domestic Violence and the Criminal Procedure Act, set out the obligations of institutions and the rights of people who seek protection. On paper, the system is in place. The problem, as in many other countries, is its implementation, inconsistent application of the law, lenient sentences, slow proceedings and weak coordination between institutions. In moments of crisis the gap between law and real protection becomes very visible.

In recent years, however, important steps have been taken. Thanks to years of advocacy by women’s organisations, at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 key amendments to the Criminal Code were adopted. A new criminal offence of aggravated killing of a woman (femicide) was introduced, with a sentence of at least ten years’ imprisonment up to long-term imprisonment, without the possibility of limitation. For the first time the law also introduced a definition of gender-based violence, recognising that violence against women is not just an individual act but an expression of social inequalities and should therefore be treated as an aggravating circumstance when sentencing.

Despite these amendments, court practice often does not reflect the gravity of the legal framework. We still see rulings that underestimate the seriousness of the acts, perpetrators who receive minimal sentences and victims who go through a long, exhausting and often retraumatising process, something that is increasingly recognised as institutional violence. The situation is particularly challenging in smaller communities where support services are limited and fragmented.

Through the Women’s Fund, the SOLIDARNA Foundation sees every day what these failures look like in practice, women who leave without any economic security, mothers who flee with their children at the last moment, cases in which emergency financial assistance literally determines whether a woman can be safe that day. The Fund operates solely thanks to voluntary donations from citizens, which allows us to respond quickly in ways the system often does not. Our focus is not only on the laws themselves, but on what follows, consistent implementation, accessible support services and a social climate in which violence against women is not relativised, either before institutions or in everyday life.” (Karla Pudar, Executive Director of the SOLIDARNA Foundation, Women’s Fund)

Who should someone turn to first when they or someone close to them is experiencing violence and what are the next steps?

“If you or someone close to you is experiencing violence, the most important thing is that you are not alone. The first step is not filing a report, it is safety, and safety begins with a conversation with someone who knows how to assess risk. That is why the safest thing is to first contact organisations that specialise in supporting women who are experiencing violence. They can work with you to create a concrete safety plan, explain what to expect from institutions, provide legal and psychological assistance and, if necessary, organise emergency accommodation. The National Call Center for Victims of Crime and Misdemeanour (116 006) is also available, free of charge, anonymous and open 24 hours a day. This is a place where you can get information, guidance and an initial sense of a safe space.

If there is immediate danger, the priority is clear, call the police on 192 or emergency services on 112. The police are obliged to intervene, protect the victim and remove the perpetrator from the household.

Further channels of support include local branches of the Croatian Institute for Social Work, healthcare institutions, the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality and a number of civil society organisations (Autonomous Women’s House Zagreb, SOS Rijeka, Domine, B.a.b.e., Ženska soba and others).

SOLIDARNA does not provide legal or psychosocial counselling, but through the Women’s Fund we provide crisis financial support and direct women to organisations that can offer specialised help. Our role begins with listening and referral, because leaving violence does not depend on a single move, it depends on a network of support that enables a woman to have safety and autonomy in her own decisions.” (Karla Pudar, Executive Director of the SOLIDARNA Foundation, Women’s Fund)

Contacts for centres that provide help in Croatia and are also part of the network of safe houses:

Nacionalni pozivni centar za žrtve kaznenih djela i prekršaja – 116 006 (Centar za žrtve i svjedoke)

National Call Center for Victims of Crime and Misdemeanour – 116 006 (Center for Victims and Witnesses)

Ženska soba (sexual violence) – 01 6119 444

SOS helpline 0–24: Ženska pomoć sada 0800 655 222

Women’s Group Korak Karlovac 047 655 925

Autonomous Women’s House Zagreb – 0800 55 44

B.a.b.e. – 0800 200 144

Association for the Protection of the Family U.Z.O.R. Rijeka – 0800 333 883

SOS Osijek – 0800 200 151 (Izvor Tenja)

SOS Vukovar – 032 414 910 (Safe house b.a.b.e.)

SOS Slavonski Brod – 035 449 180 (Association Brod)

SOS Virovitica – 033 721 500 (SOS Virovitica, weekdays 8.00–20.00)

SOS Pakrac – 034 411 780 (“DELFIN” – PAKRAC)

SOS Sisak – 044 888 888 (Safe house Center for Women Adela)

SOS Križevci – 048 711 077 (Association Hera)

SOS Karlovac – 047 655 925 (Women’s Group Korak Karlovac)

SOS Rijeka – 051 211 888 (SOS Rijeka)

SOS Poreč – 052 452 746 (Center for Civic Initiatives Poreč)

SOS Pula – 052 500 148

SOS Split – 021 537 272 (Association Domine)

SOS Zadar – 023 332 059 (Association Duga)

Safe house Dom Duga Zagreb

Slovenia

Statistics in Slovenia

“Violence against women is more frequent than it appears at first glance,” says Tanja Šket Bele from the Association Ženska svetovalnica for Vogue Adria. “The police deal with thousands of cases of domestic violence every year. In the last few years it has been noticeable that there is more public discussion of violence and that victims are more likely to report cases.” Data for Slovenia shows that violence is present in all age groups and environments and often remains hidden because of fear and shame. According to research, every second woman (56.6 percent) from the age of 15 onwards has experienced some form of violence, psychological violence 49.3 percent, physical 23 percent, economic or property-related 14.1 percent, restriction of movement and contacts 13.9 percent, sexual violence 6.5 percent. Around 92 percent of perpetrators of physical violence are men, most often a partner or former partner. Less than half of women reported the violence to institutions or non-governmental organisations, most often to the police or the Center for Social Work (CSD).

What is the legal situation, how much protection do the laws provide, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the legal framework in Slovenia, and how are perpetrators sanctioned?

“The legislation is relatively good. The Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence sets out clear obligations for institutions and enables protection for the victim. The police can immediately remove the perpetrator or impose a restraining order, and the Criminal Code treats domestic violence as a criminal offence. The advantages include rapid protection, access to a safe place, legal counselling and support throughout the proceedings. The weaknesses are that penalties are often not sufficient without additional support (counselling, programmes for perpetrators), capacities of safe places and the availability of services differ from region to region. The most important thing is to combine a quick protection measure (restraining order), a safety plan and continuous professional support.” (Tanja Šket Bele, Association Ženska svetovalnica)

Who should someone turn to first when they or someone close to them is experiencing violence and what are the next steps?

“When a woman experiences violence, her safety comes first. If she is in danger, she should immediately leave and call the police on 113 or anonymously on 080 12 00. The crisis centre in Ljubljana operates 24/7 at a secret location and provides immediate safe accommodation, counselling, basic care, a safety plan and coordination with the police, the Center for Social Work and the court. A woman can also contact the Center for Social Work and non-governmental organisations such as the Association Ženska svetovalnica for psychosocial support, development of a safety plan and preparation of documentation for legal proceedings. At Ženska svetovalnica we offer support in two programmes, psychosocial support for women victims of violence and a crisis centre that operates 24/7.” (Tanja Šket Bele, Association Ženska svetovalnica)

“If the danger is serious, a woman can be temporarily accommodated in a safe house where, in addition to accommodation, she receives professional support to plan steps that will ensure her safety and the safety of her children, if she has them. The most important thing is that a victim of violence understands that violence is not only unacceptable, it is also a criminal offence, that she is neither guilty nor responsible for it and that she is not alone in her distress. Institutions must do everything they can to stop the violence and ensure her safety.” (Mag. Tjaša Hrovat, Društvo za nenasilno komunikacijo)

List of crisis centres and safe houses in Slovenia

The complete list of safe houses in Slovenia is available here.

The complete list of crisis centres in Slovenia is available here.

The complete list of counselling centres for victims of violence in Slovenia is available here.