Ministar Habijan: Fight against gender-based violence goes on, it is fought not just on this day, but every day

Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan participated in the commemoration of the National Day of Combating Violence against Women, held in the premises of the Municipal Civil Court in Zagreb

‘Let me begin by expressing my deep sorrow for what happened 26 years ago in this building in courtroom 123. Today we commemorate the National Day of Combating Violence against Women. The key message should be is that this fight goes beyond this day, it goes on 365 days a year’, said Minister Habijan, adding that violence knows no occupation when it comes to victims. 

‘In this case, we are talking about women who were doing their job, regardless of whether they were judges, lawyers, reporters or parties to the proceedings. The victims were women, and the main message of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation and all of us who have gathered here today is clear - violence, whether verbal or physical, must in no way be tolerated’, Minister Habijan underlined. 

One path of the fight concerns legislative amendments and tightening of sentences, and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation and the Government of the Republic of Croatia have made a step forward with regard to the new criminal offence of aggravated murder of a woman or femicide, in respect of which there is no limitation period and a sentence of 10 years’ to long-term imprisonment is envisaged.

The penalties for rape and grave sexual offences have been tightened. More support was given to victims and witnesses. Special departments have been set up in the courts to provide the support most needed in these cases. 

‘The second path of the fight concerns the issue of prevention and education, and it is the responsibility of all of us - people who perform public duties and people who live a normal daily life, until we all accept that there should be zero tolerance for violence. The fight goes on, it is not just on this day but every day, and for this you will have the support of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation’, concluded Minister Habijan. 

In addition to Minister Habijan, the commemoration was attended by President of the Municipal Civil Court Petra Kušević Fraculj, Deputy President of the Constitutional Court Mato Arlović, President of the International Association of Judges and Honorary President of the Croatian Association of Judges Đuro Sessa, and Acting President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia Gordana Jalšovečki.

The National Day of Combating Violence against Women is marked in memory of judge Ljiljana Hvalec, attorney Hajra Prohić and Gordana Oraškić, the three women a former police officer murdered at the Zagreb Municipal Court during divorce proceedings on 22 September 1999.

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