As part of the project "Introduction of a justice model focused on citizens by strengthening prevention and protection in cases of gender-based violence", which is implemented by the Autonomous Women's Center, with the support of the "Justice for All" project of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), research was carried out with the aim overview of the current situation in the area of ​​respect for the minimal rights of the injured within the criminal-legal protection of victims of gender-based violence.

By comparing the data obtained from all three sources - victims of gender-based violence, providers of victim support services and representatives of the judiciary, it can be established that the experiences related to reporting violence, whether personal or those recorded by victims, are uniform.

From the responses of all research participants, it was confirmed that the situation regarding victims of gender-based violence has not changed despite all the laws, protocols and other by-laws that improved the protection of victims of gender-based violence, and that the protection of victims still depends on the fact which professional in the protection system the victim will encounter while addressing for help. The research confirmed that there are positive examples in which the rights and personality of victims were respected when reporting violence, in accordance with the standards specified in the General and Special Protocols, as well as in the consistent implementation of relevant laws. However, there are still negative examples of the actions of representatives of institutions, who, with their unprofessional, unethical and/or illegal actions, prevent victims from exercising their right to protection, i.e. deter victims of gender-based violence from reporting and further participating in proceedings.

The right to information and the provision of free legal assistance in the form of general legal advice to victims of gender-based violence is, in the experience of all those who participated in this research, still sporadic, and sometimes inaccurate, that is, even those who should inform the victim often do not have enough knowledge on the relevant legal provisions and the manner in which protection procedures are carried out. The free legal aid provided by the free legal aid services in the municipality is not, by the research participants, recognized as a provider of information and services for victims of gender-based violence, and there is even lack of information that these services exist.

Research report is currently available only in Serbian HERE.