In the last 5 years organized crime has moved into trafficking in women
for prostitution, which has increased due to the deployment of international military
forces and the opening of Eastern European borders. ("NGO report in the staus of
women in the Republic of Croatia," 5 January 1998)
Policy and Law
Transboundary illegal trafficking of one or more persons is punishable by imprisonment
of up to one year, but carries a longer sentence when it involves a minor, even if the
person prosecuted had no previous criminal history. Procurement for the purpose of
prostitution was penalized under the law, with the imposition of a fine or up to one year
in prison. Coercion or force would increase the sentence to up to three years. Cases
involving a minor or a child carried a sentence of up to 10 years. (Ms. Karajkovic,
Assistant Minister of Justice, UN: Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Concludes
consideration of Croatia's initial report," M2 Presswire, 28 January 1998)
Policy and Law
Prostitutes are not covered under the criminal rape act. (UN: Women's
Anti-Discrimination Committee Concludes consideration of Croatia's initial report,"
M2 Presswire, 28 January 1998)
The act of prostitution is not penalized, but solicitation is penalized. ("NGO
report in the staus of women in the Republic of Croatia," 5 January 1998)
Massage parlors, telephone services, entertainment places and restaurants front as
brothels, and are increasingly common, as newspapers advertise them. The only measures by
police are occasional raids with consequent charges against procurers and the eviction of
the illegal women from Croatia. ("NGO report in the staus of women in the Republic of
Croatia," 5 January 1998)
Official Corruption and Collaboration
Prostitution is under concealed protection of the state, the law, the judiciary and the
police. There have been a number of murders connected to organized crime gangs in Zagreb.
(Boris Raseta, "Squaring of Accounts ‘Chicago Style’," AIM Zagreb/ GMT
20 July 1997)