On the occasion of the Victims of Domestic Violence Remembrance Day, the Ministry of Justice stresses that it has actively been advocating a consistent application of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act so that the victims may receive a uniform, complete and effective protection against domestic violence. The Ministry notes that the Act was adopted in 2016 and that it became enforceable on 1 June 2017.

The Act has introduced new urgent measures by public authorities to Serbia’s legal system.  The Act prescribes mandatory coordinated efforts by the competent authorities, and the preparation of individual protection plans for victims of domestic violence. In 22 months since the Act entered into force, the authorities have reviewed 88,188 reported cases of domestic violence and issued 23,176 individual plans of protection and support to victims.

Similarly, the Criminal Code has been amended to the effect that Serbia now has legislation which conforms to the Istanbul Convention. New criminal offences have also been introduced: persecution, sexual harassment, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. These offences additionally provide a legal protection to women.

Data shows that the Act has empowered potential and actual victims to report abusers and encouraged the society not to turn a blind eye to violence.

The Ministry of Justice notes that it is necessary to continue working on encouraging victims not to remain silent about the abuse suffered but rather to report it. It is also important to continue building the professional capacity and resources so that trust between victims and the judicial and other authorities may be forged. 

The victims’ trust in the public institutions must be raised because they are the only ones which can and must provide them protection. For that reason, all public bodies and institutions must work on raising the victims’ awareness that they have partners in those institutions and the larger state apparatus.

Unfortunately, our country still records cases resulting in death. This is the alarming fact which ought to prevent everyone from ignoring violence and to make them report it so that future tragedies may be prevented.

Lives lost to domestic violence in 2015 were the cause for the Ministry of Justice to begin drafting a preventive statute which would identify the risks of violence before violence even occurred.

The Ministry of Justice has been monitoring the application of the Act and held, based on analyses, a series of professional training of those competent for enforcing the Act: prosecutors, police officers, social welfare centres, health workers... Greater efforts and a more efficient action by all public authorities, the media and the society as a whole are necessary to combat this entirely unacceptable social. Let us all unite against violence! Eliminate violence!

May 18 has been declared the Victims of Domestic Violence Remembrance Day because as many as 7 women were murdered between 16 and 18 May 2015 in Serbia as a result of domestic violence.