Zagreb, 5 March 2010 - On the ocassion of the International Women's Day, the United Nations Development Programme in Croatia (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees in the Republic of Croatia (UNHCR) in cooperation with women ambassadors accredited in the Republic of Croatia organised a public debate „Raising Awareness about Domestic Violence - Five Years Later". The debate was a follow up on the initiative „Together against Domestic Violence", which was launched in 2005 in Zagreb, and continued in 2006 and 2007.

Representing the UN, the head of UNHCR Croatia, Mr. Wilfried Buchhorn, thanked all present for their efforts in promoting one of the basic human rights, the right for safety. Buchhorn stated that "in the 21st century violence against women is unacceptable and the society should demonstrate zero tolerance to the issue". He called on all men and women, officials, civil society and the media to take responsibility, to unite and act to end violence against women. "There is so much people can do!" he concluded.

The Ambassador of the Netherlands, H.E. Nienke Trooster, on behalf of the "Together against domestic violence" initiative gave credit to those that "do not give up, that give their best, as professionals as volunteers as politicians, to fight for women's rights and who will never give up fighting violence against women - this act of crime".

In his address, the Spanish Ambassador to Croatia, HE Manuel Salazar, stated that "Spanish presidency has assumed the task to ensure that the EU provides opportunities and rights to all citizens, especially equality between men and women. During this time, Spain will promote the European Observatory on Domestic Violence, as an information gathering and diagnostics tool. Spain will also strive for the establishment of a European Order to protect victims and the setting up of a telephone number for assistance to victims of domestic violence."

"In 2000, Ministry of Family, War Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity started a series of initiatives with the aim to prevent and protect the most vulnerable groups in the society, directed especially to the protection of rights of women and children exposed to the violence in the families. The woman in today's modern society represents a pillar who, through her work, not only contributes to the well being of her family, but is also a great support in preserving the family. Unfortunately, despite all appraisals, she is the most frequent victim of domestic violence" - stressed Minister Tomislav Ivić. "From 2000 onwards, the Ministry has initiated and is implementing a number of projects and programmes to prevent domestic violence in families as an unacceptable form of behaviour".

During the panel discussion that followed, Hans Risser and Vesna Kesić presented the UNDP supported Croatia case study Gender Dimension of Violence, the findings of which state that statistics and experience indicate increase in visibility of gender based discrimination and violence. Since 2000, Croatia introduced a range of legal instruments, institutional solutions, and public campaigns to create a more gender equitable society and eliminate all forms of violence against women. This led to institutions and general public becoming more sensitized to the issues of domestic violence. Furthermore feminist groups gained influence, media became more reactive, and public responses to the questions of domestic violence improved. Therefore, more perpetrators are reported and prosecuted. The most common form of domestic violence is marital violence in which perpetrator is male (between 92 and 96%), but the rate of convicted perpetrators is still too low, compared to European states.

Representatives of Croatian Red Cross (HCK), Mirjana Ercegovic and dr. Aurelio Koen, presented HCK experiences in delivery of social services through a mobile teams programme, executed in areas of special state concern and supported by UNHCR, is carried out since 1998. The HCK presentation particularly emphasized the topic of family violence against elderly women and showcased several concrete examples of physical and psychological violence against elderly and difficulties they face in dealing with such problems.