B.a.B.e.’s activity at the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women this year was street action on Cvjetni trg (Floral Square) in Zagreb. Among the people visiting B.aB.e.’s action were presidential candidates Vesna Pusic and Ivo Josipovic.
Regardless of the fact of having two centuries of struggle for women human rights and feminists’ movement in Croatia, there is still a sense of self-guilt and embarrassment that victims of rape, not perpetrators, feel. Having in mind that, B.a.B.e. has organized street action on Floral Square in Zagreb, named “Silovana” (“Raped”), which aim was to make Croatian authorities more sensitive towards women victims of rape violence. During the action B.a.B.e. distributed brochures in which, among all, prejudices and myths about rape are pointed out. The brochure also offers information on legally prescribed rights that women victims of rape or any other sex crimes have.
The support to street action “Silovana”, was given by president candidates, Vesna Pusic and Ivo Josipovic, while president candidates Milan Bandic and Nadan Vidosevic, have given their support through support letters.
Vesna Pusic, president candidate
“I am exclusively for prison as punishment, and not for financial punishments that Croatian law currently prescribes as a measure of prevention in domestic violence. State authorities are usually on the side of the perpetrator, and that needs to be changed ”, said president candidate Vesna Pusic and added how she sees rape equal to murder, and that rapists should be punished and legally treated like murderers then.
Suzana Kunac from B.a.B.e, pointed out that in treatment of domestic violence, the biggest problem is in municipal and cantonal courts, that in most cases of marital rapes, they release the perpetrator, while such court decisions are rejected on Supreme Court.
“This year, we had 150 reported rapes in Croatia, including marital ones, however that number is not considered as reality-based”, says Mrs. Kunac.
Ivo Josipovic, president candidate
Commenting legally prescribed 3-5 years for rapists in prison, Ivo Josipovic has stressed the fact that raising duration of prison punishment for rapists is not the only thing that should be done in Croatia regarding this issue, the main focus should be on more efficient trials: “We must stop having women victims of rapes, experiencing second victimization during trials”.
With this campaign, B.a.B.e. has started their participation in international campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
More info:
www.silovanje.org – Official website of the campaing;
javno.com – More photos of the street action.
Photos:
Floral Square, 25th November 2009, Zagreb
