On the occasion of the National Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the BaBe Association reminds us that support for the suppression and prevention of violence must not remain at a declarative level. High-quality cross-sectoral cooperation is necessary between all links of the system that participate in the suppression and prevention of violence – from the police, judiciary, social welfare centers, medical staff to educational institutions and the media as creators of public opinion.
Despite the fact that violence against women and domestic violence is only occasionally discussed in public and in the media, when certain dates like today are marked, or when a tragedy occurs, it is important to reiterate that violence against women is not a private matter or a family value. Violence against women is a pressing social problem that we must tackle.
Prema podacima MUP-a, od 1. siječnja 2012. do 31. prosinca 2016., u Hrvatskoj su 72 žene ubili njihovi muževi, bivši muževi, partneri, bivši partneri ili druge bliske muške osobe. Prošle godine u Hrvatskoj ubijeno je 15 žena od strane bliske muške osobe. Dakle, femicid – ubojstvo žena od strane bliskih muških osoba – u Hrvatskoj čini od 25 do 30 posto svih ubojstava. Svakih 15 minuta jedna žena je zlostavljana, a svaka treća doživi ekonomsko nasilje u partnerskom odnosu. Samo jedna od 15 do 20 žena prijavi silovanje. Upravo ta porazna statistika svjedoči koliko je nasilje rasprostranjeno, a još zastrašujuće jest koliko nasilja zapravo ostaje neprijavljeno, u sivoj zoni. Stoga je od neminovne važnosti podizati svijest o nasilju prema ženama i obiteljskom nasilju, dekonstruirati nametnute rodne uloge, stereotipe i predrasude te osnaživati žrtve, te oštro i bez iznimke sankcionirati svako nasilničko ponašanje. U ovakvom društvenom kontekstu brza i kvalitetna implementacija Konvencije Vijeća Europe o sprečavanju i borbi protiv nasilja nad ženama i nasilja u obitelji ne smije biti dovedena u pitanje.
Raising awareness is the first step in solving the problem of gender-based violence. As a society, we must become aware that violence against women is an unacceptable violation of human rights that should be severely punished. Likewise, violent behavior should be met with unwavering condemnation by the entire society; the perpetrator should not be justified or excused for his actions, and the victim should be empowered, not imposed with additional feelings of guilt and shame. Children must learn from a young age that violence is unacceptable and that we should strive for peaceful solutions, tolerance and respect for others and those who are different. We need to educate citizens for a more equal and just society.
