"In the fight against violence, as a country and a society we have to be more determined, more rigorous in sanctioning and more efficient in prevention"

Minister of Justice and Public Administration Ivan Malenica participated in the ceremony marking the National Day of Combating Violence against Women, which took place at the premises of the Municipal Civil Court in Zagreb on 22 September. 

The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister’s Advisor for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, MP Ljubica Lukačić, State Secretary Dragan Jelić, Deputy President of the Supreme Court Marin Mrčela, President of the Croatian Judges Association Damir Kontrec, President of the European Association of Judges Đuro Sessa, Mr Vjeran Blažeković, Judge of the County Court in Zagreb, Ms Ingrid Antičević Marinović, Judge of the Constitutional Court, and Ms Maša Gluhinić, President of the Zagreb Bar Association and Vice-President of the Croatian Bar Association.

“Ljiljana Hvalec, Gorana Oraški and Hajra Prohić lost their lives trying to protect a victim and sanction the abuser. While keeping their memory alive, we must stand against any form of violence more strongly so that no women would ever fall victim to such a senseless act of violence. In the fight against violence, as a country and a society we have to be more determined, more rigorous in sanctioning and more efficient in prevention”, said Minister Malenica, adding that the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration would continue to build a more effective system of protecting the rights of victims and fighting against all forms of violence against women.

“First of all, we are going to do this through legislative protection, by prescribing tighter sanctions for abusers. Next, by strengthening court capacities through the establishment of family departments and victim support departments, as well as improving the security of all judicial authorities using the judicial police and other forms of protection. It’s the only way to build a system capable of reacting quickly and effectively – to remove the abuser and provide the victim with systematic support. Through a systematic fight of all government institutions and timely court protection we can make further steps forward to stop the cycle of violence”, concluded the Minister.

The National Day of Combating Violence against Women has been marked for 21 consecutive years in memory of Ljiljana Hvalec, Gordana Oraškić and Hajra Prohić, women killed in 1999 by a former policeman Mato Oraškić during divorce proceedings at the Zagreb Municipal Court.

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