The campaign 'I didn’t say YES' focuses on the concept of true consent through the testimonies of ten survivors of sexual violence, translated into literary forms of prose and poetry, and transformed into the first booklet of testimonies created through individual psychotherapeutic work at the Women's Room Center for Victims of Sexual Violence. ‘Nisam rekla DA’ booklet will be given to individuals who have survived sexual violence.
Sexual violence is one of the most severe criminal acts and is among the least reported
Sexual violence is one of the most severe criminal acts and is among the least reported, not only in the Republic of Croatia but worldwide. There are many reasons for not reporting an experienced form of sexual violence, including sexual harassment. These reasons can be categorized into three groups: personal reasons, insufficient support for survivors of sexual violence, and fear of reporting and the outcome of the judicial process.
Even when women report sexual violence, the most common societal reaction is to blame the survivor and shift responsibility from the perpetrator to the victim, emphasizes Kristina Mihaljević, head of the Women's Room prevention programs.
Every sexual activity without consent is sexual violence
An analysis by the global movement 'Amnesty International' shows that in sixteen European countries, including the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Spain, and Slovenia, there are laws that clearly define any sexual activity without consent as sexual violence and that consent must be voluntary, clear, and can be withdrawn at any time.
If a person does not express clear consent or withdraws consent during the sexual act, it is considered sexual violence. In the Republic of Croatia, the legal regulation states that the age of sexual consent is 15 years.
Legislative Changes in Recent Years
Kristina Mihaljević, head of the prevention programs at Women's Room, emphasizes that the legal definition of rape in Croatia has undergone significant changes with the criminal amendments that came into force in 2020. The criminal offence of sexual intercourse without consent was abolished. Still, the legislation maintained the distinction between acts committed with the use of force or threats and those committed without them, all now falling under Article 153 – the criminal offence of rape.
Despite positive legislative changes, in practice, Women's Room still encounters problems highlighted in the evaluation 'GREVIO' report for Croatia. GREVIO encourages the state to fully implement the newly adopted provisions of the Criminal Code that encompass the criminal offences of rape and sexual violence and to ensure that the bodies responsible for law enforcement, prosecution, and the judiciary effectively apply them in practice, including when there is no resistance from the victim, as the most common reaction to sexual violence is freezing in fear.
"The biggest problem we encounter is the disbelief in victims, which affects the reporting and prosecution of criminal offences. When a woman survives sexual violence, it most often happens that everyone questions in what ways she said 'no.' Did she defend herself, did she scream, but no one asks if she said 'yes' and if she could say 'yes' freely, consciously, and without fear of consequences."
If you have survived sexual violence, seek free support at the Women's Room counselling centre via email: savjetovaliste@zenskasoba.hr or contact number 01 6119 444.
Authors: Women's Room, HAIKU communications
Communications Strategy: Karla Andrić
Influencer Associate: Maja Krištafor
Design: Josipa Tadić and Sven Sorić