On occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, reiterated that all forms of violence in the family had to be penalised. Earlier this year, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Family Act, which now treats family violence as a criminal offence.

Bearing in mind the latest results of surveys carried out in Serbia, which prove that as few as a quarter of women actually report mental abuse, and only a fifth report physical abuse, it can be noted that family violence remains a great problem, and, unfortunately, a largely invisible one, for society as a whole. It is important to warn all state institutions, non-governmental organisations, professional services and the general public that violence against women was a problem that affects all categories of society, regardless of education and social status, and that, as such, it needs first to be identified in order to be penalised.

Therefore, the Chairman of the National Assembly again appeals on all segments of Serbian society to give their contribution, and use their powers to increase the visibility of the problem of violence against women, and to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are punished to the utmost extent of law.