According to police statistics, 45 cases of domestic violence are reported every day in Croatia, with the number rising to 60 on holidays, and despite myths suggesting that both genders commit abuse, women are overwhelmingly the targets of domestic violence, the statement said.
Those observations were part of the main findings by Rashida Manjoo, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, during her ten-day fact-finding visit to Croatia in November.
In her report, Manjoo commended Croatia for adopting progressive legislation and international conventions on gender-based violence, but observed numerous shortcomings in their implementation.
State authorities tend to focus on preserving the unity of the family, she noted, rather than protecting the victim's human rights. Courts and law enforcement officials seldom employ protection measures, leaving victims at the mercy of perpetrators and often forcing them to flee their family homes.
Protecting the rights of victims will be the focus of a ministerial conference organized by UNDP in partnership with the Croatian Justice Ministry in Zagreb on November 28-29.
Building on Croatia's experience in creating support offices for the victims of violent crimes who are summoned to testify in court, the conference will encourage the countries of Southeast Europe to adopt new European Union standards on victims' rights.
Participation has been confirmed by justice representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine.