Croatia marks National Day against Violence against Women

Croatia marked the National Day against Violence against Women on September 22, a date chosen to commemorate the 1999 killing of three women at the Zagreb Municipal Court. The day serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for equality and safety for women.

Adela Iskra Lukačić, president of the Center for Women in Sisak, reported that shelter capacities are currently full. She emphasized the necessity for coordinated action between institutions and organizations to ensure victims do not have to navigate the support system alone. In the Sisak-Moslavina Police Administration area, data shows a continuous downward trend in recorded domestic violence offenses, with 166 misdemeanor offenses and 64 criminal offenses recorded in the first eight months of 2026.

In Marija Bistrica, the Association ‘Hrvatska žena’ commemorated the day with an exhibition titled ‘Both Love and Sorrow with the Same Thread for Centuries’. The event featured traditional ‘zidnjaci’—decorative cloths once common in kitchens. The exhibition highlighted how historical messages on these cloths often relegated women to traditional domestic roles, contrasting past social expectations with modern efforts to raise awareness about all forms of violence against women.