Croatia warns of surge in beach child exploitation and drowning incidents

Police data show that Croatia recorded 452 offences of child sexual exploitation for pornography on beaches last year, with the highest number of cases occurring in the summer months. The perpetrators are most often foreign men aged between 30 and 60.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among Croatian children, with 47 deaths of persons under 19 recorded over the past decade. Experts estimate that 40‑70 % of children cannot swim. In response, many local communities are launching free swimming programmes to teach basic water safety and confidence to non‑swimmers.