The number of reports of domestic violence in the Tuzla Canton increased by 24 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Although this does not necessarily indicate an increase in violence, this data has alerted the competent institutions to consider additional measures in the coming period that are foreseen in the recently adopted new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence against Women in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The new law provides for better protection for victims of violence and stricter punishment policy towards perpetrators. Even before the law was passed, and in the past two years, due to the increased number of femicide and public pressure, an increased number of reports of domestic violence was observed, as well as the imposed protective measures, as well as cases in cases where criminal offenses were committed.
“In 2023, 105 cases of domestic violence were received, in 2024, 113, and in 2025, 70 cases in five months. This is an increase of almost 70 percent. When it comes to protective measures, in 2023, 37 requests for the imposition of protective measures were submitted, in 2024, 95, and since the beginning of the year, in less than 6 months, 72 protective measures have been imposed,” said the President of the Municipal Court of Tuzla, Muhamed Tulumović.
The new law recognizes Safe Houses as institutions for providing specialized support services in cases of domestic violence. They are satisfied that all suggestions from the non-governmental sector have been taken into account, guided by what has been recognized in practice as a deficiency in the law.
“The treatment has been considerably improved and the treatment of subjects of protection is more serious when violence is reported, that is, more resources in the community are used, more cooperation with other institutions is used and somehow more urgent and prompt action is taken when domestic violence is reported,” says Danijela Huremović, head of the Tuzla Safe House.
The new law is challenging for guardianship authorities, that is, Social Work Centers, given that it also deals with the rights of perpetrators of domestic violence as parents in the context of seeing a child.
“This will be very challenging, given that this jurisdiction has so far been the responsibility of the courts, so it will probably be necessary for the federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy to provide additional clarifications on how we will recognize the right to contact with a child, who can also be a protected person,” says Amira Hodžić, director of the Lukavac Social Work Center.
The Social Work Centers warn that in this procedure, the best interests of the child and the fact that in most cases of violence, those who have already committed violence must be taken into account. They also believe that, in addition to the numerous benefits that the law brings, more attention must be paid to the psychosocial treatment of abusers, and that protective measures and penal policies must be consistently implemented.
