Femicide: Now a Distinct Crime Here, with the Longest Punishment

Croatia has become the third European country to recognize femicide as a distinct crime that can lead to up to 40 years in prison, the country’s harshest punishment.

“These changes will protect the rights, the safety, and the dignity of women and send a clear message that violence against women is unacceptable,” expresses conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Within the European Union, Croatia follows in Cyprus and Malta’s footsteps in recognizing the killing of women based on their gender as a distinct crime. The Balkan country has the third highest femicide rate per capita of all 27 nation members. The changes to the constitution were approved by 77 votes to 60, imposing severe punishment – between 10 and 40 years of incarceration – for anyone found guilty of femicide. In 2023, 2,300 European women died at the hands of family members or intimate partners. In Croatia, there were 12 such murders out of 3.8 million citizens.