The agreements signed today are the continuation of good practice that began in 2019. In the preceding two years, 15 projects and 20 associations were financed with HRK 6 million, Mađerić said.
Today’s agreements will enable counselling centres to continue their activities, which include psychosocial and legal assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence, which is one of the first steps to continuing a normal life.
The programme will also provide training for employees at the counselling centres about the rights and needs of victims of violence, their children and victims of sexual violence, as well as training for county teams about gender-based violence.
The government has adopted a national strategy on protection against domestic violence from 2017 to 2022. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence has been ratified and has entered into force, and a new protocol on procedures in cases of domestic violence has been adopted.
Six new shelters have been opened in counties, and national and county interdepartmental teams have been established in the field to provide protection for victims.
The ministry says that Croatia is the fifth county in Europe to ensure a toll-free anonymous 24/7 hour hotline at the National Call Centre on 116 006.
Currently, a national plan to combat sexual violence and harassment from 2022 to 2027 and a national plan for gender equality for the same period are being prepared and will endeavour to remove any form of gender-based discrimination and establish real gender equality.
