Rights of victims of sexual violence suffered in the Homeland War

Find out which rights you have as a victim of sexual violence suffered during armed aggression against the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War and how to exercise these rights

The Act on the Rights of Victims of Sexual Violence Suffered during the Armed Aggression against the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War came into force on 18 June 2015

Rights of victims of sexual violence

Victims of sexual violence suffered during the armed aggression against the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War are entitled to:
  • Financial compensation
  • Psychosocial support
  • Legal aid
  • Medical assistance
  • Medical rehabilitation
  • Physical examination
  • Mandatory and supplementary health insurance
  • Accommodation in an institution providing support and services to war veterans and victims
  • Compensation of transportation costs to exercise their rights.

Basic requirements to acquire the status and rights of a victim of sexual violence

In order for a person to acquire the status of a victim of sexual violence and exercise their rights, the following requirements need to be met: 
  • The applicant has to be a citizen of the Republic of Croatia or an EU member state
  • The applicant had permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Croatia at the time it suffered sexual violence.

How to acquire the status of a victim of sexual violence and exercise your right to financial compensation

The procedure is initiated by filing an application (Z form) to the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, by post or in person, at the following address:
Ministarstvo hrvatskih branitelja, Trg Nevenke Topalušić 1, 10 000 Zagreb

There is no time limit to file this application, and the following documentation should be submitted with it:
  • A copy of the applicant’s ID card or passport
  • Proof of temporary residence in the Republic of Croatia if the applicant did not have registered temporary or permanent residence at the time when they suffered sexual violence
  • Medical and/or other records at the applicant’s disposal
  • Proof of citizenship of an EU member state (if the applicant is not a citizen of the Republic of Croatia).

Where and how rights can be exercised

Rights are exercised pursuant to a previously obtained decision on the status of a victim of sexual violence:
  • Psychosocial support—in psychosocial support centres (PSS centres) of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans
  • Legal aid—in PSS centres and local units of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, state administration offices and authorised associations
  • Medical assistance-in the National Centre for Psychological Trauma (Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb) and regional centres (University Hospital Centre Zagreb—Rebro, Osijek, Rijeka, Split)
  • Health insurance-in any regional office of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (irrespective of one’s place of residence) or via the Ministry of Croatian Veterans
  • Medical rehabilitation—by filing an application with the applicant’s primary care physician (MR form).

Participation in the procedure

The applicant gives a statement, and in case of direct (formal) evidence of sexual violence (judgment, witness statement before the competent authorities, etc.), they do not have to be heard.
 
The statement is taken by a member of the Committee (a psychologist), and applicant may be accompanied by a person of trust.
 
The procedure is conducted with the application of the principle of confidentiality of information, protection of privacy and considerateness.