Research

Since 1997, we have been actively conducting various research projects on the topic of violence against women, in cooperation with relevant institutions, domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and competent experts.

Stop Violence Against Women (1997–2000)
The first research project, titled “Stop Violence Against Women,” was conducted from 1997 to 2000. The research included the collection and publication of data on violence against women, legal analysis, and proposals for legal reforms. The project was led by Silva Mežnarić and Suzana Kovačević.

Survey on the Prevalence of Violence Against Women (2003)
In cooperation with the State Institute for the Protection of Family, Motherhood and Youth, we conducted the first quantitative research on domestic violence against women in Croatia in 2003, as part of the project “The Social Costs of Domestic Violence Against Women.” The research was carried out using a survey of 1,000 women from across the country and remains the only study of its kind conducted in Croatia to this day.

Research on Economic Violence (2009)
In cooperation with the Ministry of Family, Veterans’ Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity, we conducted a study in 2009 titled “Economic Violence Against Women: Manifestations, Consequences, and Paths to Recovery,” as part of the project “Economic Aspects of Violence Against Women and Their Children: Women and Employment – The Impact of Violence on Children.”
The general aim of the research was to identify challenges in achieving economic and financial independence for women who have survived violence. The research findings highlight the crucial importance of employment and independent finances for women who have experienced violence.

Research on the Implementation of Laws and Protocols Protecting Women from Domestic Violence (2010)
In cooperation with the Gender Equality Ombudswoman, Gordana Lukač Koritnik, we conducted a study in 2010 titled “Experiences of Women Victims of Domestic Violence with the Work of State Institutions.”
As part of the project, 333 women who had survived domestic violence were interviewed. The research highlighted serious shortcomings and criticisms regarding the work of state institutions, as well as the need to improve institutional responses.

Report on the Employment of Women Survivors of Violence (2011)
As part of the project “Support for the Social Inclusion and Labour Market Integration of Women Who Have Survived Domestic and Other Forms of Gender-Based Violence,” implemented under Component IV of the IPA programme, and in cooperation with the Centre for Women War Victims, we conducted an analysis and research, publishing the results in a report titled “Employment Opportunities for Women Survivors of Violence.”

The research included a professional legal analysis of 17 laws as well as 8 national and international conventions, policies, and strategies. Field research and focus groups were also conducted with women survivors of violence.

The aim of the research was to examine the employment opportunities available to women who had survived domestic violence. The results revealed that women face extremely difficult challenges both in finding and maintaining employment and that specific employment incentive measures for women victims of violence were rarely, if ever, used. This led to a form of practice evaluation by the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), and by 2012, some improvements in the employment of women survivors of violence were noted—at least among the beneficiaries of the Autonomous Women’s House Zagreb.

Report on the Implementation of Croatian Legislation Related to Domestic Violence (2012)
In 2010, we began, as a partner organization, a project with the American NGO Advocates for Human Rights (AHR) and the Bulgarian NGO Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation (BGRF). The project, titled “Monitoring the Implementation of the Domestic Violence Protection Law,” was research-based and aimed to explore, through the method of structured interviews and document review, how the implementation of all relevant laws protecting victims of violence from repeat violence and punishing perpetrators of violence is carried out in Croatia. The research covered all major cities in Croatia and took place from February 7 to February 18, 2011. During the reporting period, 67 interviews were conducted with representatives from institutions and NGOs. The result was a report on the implementation of legislation in various sectors: police, state prosecution, judiciary (misdemeanour, criminal, family law), healthcare, social welfare centres (CZSS), and NGOs. The report also includes 100 recommendations for improving legislation and practices in the fight against violence against women in the family, as well as a commentary on the Domestic Violence Protection Act with proposed amendments.

Research on the Impact of the Pandemic on Gender-Based Violence (2020)
The research on the impact of the pandemic on intimate partner violence against women was conducted by psychologist at AŽKZ, Prof. Anita Lauri-Korajlija. It is the first research in Croatia that provides a more detailed insight into what was happening behind closed doors. In her presentation, Prof. Anita Lauri-Korajlija emphasized that although the study was conducted on a small sample (152 women), the results show that for one-third of the women, violence during the pandemic was more frequent and intense than usual, and new, very specific forms of violence emerged. Due to the pandemic, physical violence appeared in relationships where it had not been present before (other forms of violence existed, but not physical). AŽKZ lawyer, Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić, in her presentation, addressed the legal aspects of protecting women from intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing numerous examples from practice, which indicate the need for systemic and continuous education of all stakeholders involved in working with victims of domestic violence, something that the Gender Equality Ombudsperson continually emphasizes, especially in her annual reports submitted to the Croatian Parliament.

The presentation was actively followed by the advisor to the Gender Equality Ombudsperson, Martina Krnić, who joined the discussion, pointing out that a comparison of the Ministry of the Interior’s statistical data from the first six months of 2019 and the first six months of 2020 indicates an increase in criminal offenses related to domestic violence by over 40%.

Research on the Use of the European Protection Order (2021)
A webinar on the use of the European Protection Order for legal professionals was held as part of the EU project “Promoting the Right to Protection for Women from Violence through the Application of Directive 2011/99/EU on the European Protection Order” – ARTEMIS, in which AŽKZ participates as a partner organization.

The purpose of the project is to strengthen the capacities of non-governmental organizations in Italy, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, and Croatia for the application of this European legal mechanism.

AŽKZ external consultant Valentina Andrašek and AŽKZ lawyer Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić presented the results of the research conducted by AŽKZ and provided an overview of Directive 2011/99/EU on the European Protection Order. This is an important mechanism that enables the recognition of protective measures for victims of violence among EU member states.

During the webinar, the application of this directive in Croatia and within the European Union was presented, as well as how to request a European Protection Order. Additionally, the application of protective measures in Croatia was analysed. As part of the research, examples of good practices regarding the application of this European legal mechanism in specific EU member states were also analysed, which were shared with the webinar participants.