CROATIA BECOMES THE THIRD COUNTRY IN THE EU TO RECOGNISE FEMICIDE AS A SPECIFIC CRIMINAL OFFENCE
GHRTV
26-03-2024
Anne-Marie Leal
Women’s Rights Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
Following the tragic murder of 20-year-old law student Mihaela Berak, who was shot dead by a police officer she had briefly dated, the Croatian parliament approved changes to the Criminal Code, making the killing of women a specific crime in itself. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi emphasised that the legislative amendments presented to Croatia's parliament will send "a clear message to society that killing women and violence against women are not acceptable"[1].
Sadly, this measure is still rare in Europe since in 2024, Croatia is only the third country in the European Union to give femicide a separate legal status, after Cyprus and Malta.
However, the absence of criminalisation of the killing of women because of their gender is surprising when, in 2022, 2,300 women lost their lives in Europe due to violence perpetrated by an intimate partner or family member. Among these tragic incidents, Croatia, with a population of 3.8 million, reported 13 femicides the same year [2].
The amendment to the criminal code, adopted with 77 votes in favour and 60 against, states that the sentences can range from 10 to 40 years of imprisonment, the harshest penalty provided by the croatian legislation. The adoption of a set of stricter measures aimed at combating violence against women also involve increasing penalties for rapists, with prison sentences elevated from between 1 to 5 years to range from 3 to 8 years. In the most severe cases, perpetrators may face up to 12 years of imprisonment [3].
The new Criminal Procedure Act also gives victims of gender-based violence more power in legal procedures against their perpetrators. From now on, courts must take into consideration women’s statements on the danger to their safety when deciding on restraining orders. Besides that, victims should be informed about the release of their abusers. [2]
The recognition of femicide as a standalone crime is a step forward in the protection of women. Remembering that the killing of women is the tip of the iceberg, the recognition and repression of gender-based violence is as urgent as it is crucial. These important amendments will help the governments collect accurate data on this specific crime, which could help authorities tackle this phenomenon which is as old as the patriarchy itself. As illustrated by Simone de Beauvoir, “To name is to reveal. And to reveal is to act”, and by recognising the crime of femicide as a specific criminal offence Croatia is already setting the example for future countries to follow.
Sources and further readings :
[1] AFN News (2024, March 14), “Croatia becomes third EU country to pass femicide law”. Consulted on March 15 2025. Retrieved from <https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/croatia-becomes-third-eu-country-to-pass-femicide-law-72240>.
[2] Euronews (2023, August 15), “ Croatia announces new bill to recognise femicide in country's criminal code”
Consulted on March 26 2024. Retrieved from <https://www.euronews.com/2023/09/15/croatia-announces-new-bill-to-recognise-femicide-in-countrys-criminal-code>.
[3] BalkanInsight (2024, January 11) “Croatia Strengthens Penalties for Domestic Violence, Introduces Femicide Into Law” Consulted on March 26 2024. Retrieved from <https://balkaninsight.com/2024/01/11/croatia-strengthens-penalties-for-domestic-violence-introduces-femicide-into-law/>.
