Croatia marks National Day against Violence against Women with calls for reform

In observance of the National Day against Violence against Women on September 22, various organizations and initiatives in Croatia are conducting awareness campaigns and public actions. In Petrinja, the Adela Women's Center organized an educational event to promote prevention and inform citizens about available support systems. Local officials emphasized that violence must not be treated as a private matter and called for better institutional coordination to protect victims.

Simultaneously, women's organizations are staging symbolic actions across 17 cities titled “While the minister shines a light, women remain in the dark.” These protests follow a femicide in Slatina and criticize the government's response. Activists are demanding systemic reforms, including a specific law against all forms of gender-based violence, moving such cases from misdemeanor to criminal jurisdiction, and implementing mandatory, standardized risk assessments to prevent future killings.

Reports from the Adela Women's Center indicate that their shelter has supported 479 women and children to date, noting that shelter capacities are currently full across the country.