The case of domestic violence on Pag could be called a paradigmatic case that illustrates all the shortcomings of the competent institutions. Due to the lack of constructive cooperation between the institutions, their lack of interest in individual cases and the lack of motivation of representatives and employees of the Social Welfare Centers to perform the tasks entrusted to them by law, cases of domestic violence have been inadequately treated. This is not the first time that the Social Welfare Center has found itself in the public spotlight. Let us recall the case of Ana Magaš, where the Social Welfare Center played a key role in the breakdown of the mother-child relationship through its arbitrary actions.
However, the fundamental theme of this case is violence against children, or domestic violence. Every day we witness a casual and relaxed approach of the competent authorities, which we continuously point out, but it seems that there is no significant progress. We only believe that the personal responsibility of employees involved in the work of the social welfare system will lead to certain results. We live in a system that is so absurd that in one Social Welfare Center, in the continental part of Croatia, a man who was twice legally convicted of domestic violenceHow is it possible for a domestic abuser to slip under the radar of the system and, at the same time, write expert opinions in which he reflects on the violence committed by people who were treated by him as a psychologist? This same person today freely participates in professional conferences and workshops, and continues to work in the profession, fortunately no longer at the Social Welfare Center. The BaBe association very often points out the inappropriate behavior of social welfare centers in parental care procedures, in which violence against women is viewed as something less important when making a decision on parental care. We recently witnessed a case where the Center supported a father, who was indicted for the criminal offense of violence against a child, by proposing that the child could live with the father half the time. Criminal charges filed against center employees by beneficiaries directly affected by their inaction or bad behavior are regularly dismissed. We wonder where the absurdity ends and when will the unscrupulous center employees begin to be held accountable for their failures?
Fully aware of the failure to meet minimum criteria, the lack of staff in the social protection system, the social non-recognition of social workers and their underpaid work, and the existing shortcomings of the social system, we must emphasize how important a role social welfare centers play in making court decisions. Judges who, without a critical approach and awareness of the existing inadequacy of the relevant ministry, rely heavily on the opinions of the centers when making decisions, will not make the right decision.
Therefore, we are surprised that the system as a whole has not yet found ways to restart this social system, find motivational mechanisms and invest financial resources?
Finally, we would like to express our respect to all those workers in social services and protection who, despite all these problems, continue to approach their work with focus.
