The system of free legal aid in Serbia has numerous shortcomings, and this is also reflected in the position of victims of violence against women. Although the law guarantees victims of domestic violence the right to free legal aid regardless of their property status, this right is rarely used. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia recorded between 27.000 and 28.000 reports of domestic violence in 2023 and 2024. According to data from the Ministry of Justice, only 486 victims of this criminal offense received legal aid in 2023, while data for 2024 have not yet been published. This tells us that victims of domestic violence are not sufficiently informed about their right to free legal aid and do not have equal access to justice. According to the Law on Free Legal Aid, victims of domestic violence have the right to this service regardless of their property status, i.e. their income.
- Fenomena requests that the Law on Free Legal Aid make it possible for lawyers from women's organizations to provide this service, because they are trained and sensitive to the specific situation in which women find themselves in situations of violence.
- An important goal of Fenomena's campaign is that victims of all forms of gender-based violence, such as sexual harassment, rape, persecution, forced marriage, get the right to free legal aid without proving their property status.
How great the need for changes to the system of providing free legal aid is, is shown by a national analysis of cooperation between services for free legal aid at local governments and civil society organizations that support women survivors of gender-based violence.
The results highlight serious challenges:
1) 57,8% of municipalities do not refer survivors to specialized organizations,
2) 73,3% of employees did not receive training for working with survivors,
3) 44,4% of free legal aid services are not familiar with relevant women's organizations in their area.
This research shows the urgent need for better cooperation between municipal free legal aid services and specialized organizations, so that all victims of gender-based violence receive adequate help and support.
We remind you that Fenomena manages the platform http://pravneinformacijezazrtvenasilja.rs/ through which users can ask questions anonymously. Every day, about 400 people visit this page, and their questions are answered by female lawyers who provide legal information.
