"Cities as actors of armed violence prevention and reduction (AVPR)" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Geneva, Switzerland | 8-9 July 2014

1. Trans-generational transmission of violence
/ Armed violence reduction
programming in Croatia
Geneva, 08 July 2014
Regional Review Conference

2. Reasoning behind the intervention
In 2012 Croatian police recorded:
 A total of 3616 criminal acts committed by minors (underaged)
 Children have committed a total of 557 criminal acts (under 14)
 Minors have committed 1 criminal act of murder; 227 criminal acts of bodily harm and
80 criminal acts of aggrevated bodily harm; 31 criminal atcs of domestic violence
and 379 misdemanours pursuant to Family Law.
 In total there were also recorded 3133 criminal acts to the damage of minors
 571 cases of domestic violence criminal acts and 4587 cases of misdemanours
pursuant to Family Law (recorded as vicitims)
2006 SALW survey recognized surplus of weapons within relevant institutions:
 370.000 SALW estimated in legal possession
 600.000 SALW estimated in illegal possession
 Almost 40% of the respondents in the household survey are out of the opinion that
people should never handle a gun
 81% declared that they would not choose to own a weapon even if they were
legally allowed to do so
 36% think weapons are dangerous for their families
 11% think weapons are a danger for community

3. Joint answer / Project partnerships
Republic of Croatia MUP and UNDP cooperation
Financiall support by SEESAC and EU
Project: Strengthening Capacities of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) through
development of Crime Prevention System, Support to Victims of
Criminal Offences and Arms Control Activities
Increasing level of safety through joint interventions targetting the reduction of
potentials and underlying causes of crime
Instigating local communities to develop safe environment through build up of
“Community that care / Safe communities” model (Crime Prevention Councils)

4. Crime Prevention Councils (CPC)
Results, current situation in RoC:
A total of 210 CPCs established, out of which 109 CPCs at the city or county level
and 101 CPCs at the level of urban districts, neighborhoods or municipalities
141 CPCs are fully active; they meet regularly, work on crime prevention
projects, thus contributing to increasing the level of safety in their community
Principle, Role and Recomendations
CPCs should be based on the representation of all stakeholders of the local
community (county prefect/ mayors / heads of municipalities/ heads of the city
districts), representatives of state institutions, associations, media, youth council, etc.
 CPCs should “llisten” to the needs of the local community and decide which, when
and how the preventive program should be implemented
Aim to establish a foundation for preventive programs in order to finance the costs
of certain preventive projects (as per the Law on Foundations)
Make recommendations, suggestions and solutions for raising safety and quality of
life in the local community
Evaluate the success and impact of crime prevention projects for future refference

5. “Living Life
Without Violence”
Aimed at preventing violence against women,
domestic violence, bullying and building a
culture of nonviolence / trans-generational
transmission of violence
Implementing agencies: MUP and UNDP in
collaboration with the theatrical, musical and
other artists, NGO Status M and CPCs (Ministry
of Education as of 2014)
Component 1: Interactive Workshop
(youth NGO “Be a men change the rules”)
Component 2: Conceptually prepared program
(theatre play, illusionist, rock band, jazz pianist)
Component 3: Interactive "Debate“
(eseys, poems, art work)

6. “Less Weapons
Less Tragedies”
project aimed at sensitizing the public
on the surrender of all types of weapons,
ammunition and explosive ordnance and
public awareness regarding the dangers
of illegal possession of weapons
Implemented in 3 phases 2007-2014
New concept based on comic art
campaign activity (continuous in the
cities, in cooperation MOI, UNDP, CPCs
and comic book NGO)
comic workshops
new visual identity
new promotional items

7. Results, Evaluations...
Living Life Without Violence in 2013 awarded best EU
Crime Prevention Network project in the field of
primary prevention
60.35% of students supported the implementation of
the campaign and believes that implemented programs
can contribute to the prevention of violence
13.56% of students responded that they would not
report any case of violence if they were to see it
(12 schools, 239 respondent survey)
Until January 2014 collected were (sustainability):
• 8.615 pieces of small and light weapons
• 80.260 pieces of explosive ordnances
• 3.651.614 pieces of ammunition
• 2.831 kilograms of explosives
Surrendered weapons - daily on average:
• app 4 pieces of SALW,
• 35 pieces of explosive ordnances,
• 1600 pieces of ammunition and
• 1,2 kilograms of explosives
33091 pieces of small and light weapons destroyed

8. Famous persons as campaign promotors
Oliver & Gibonni
Croatian President
Mr.Ivo Josipovic
Football match promoting
campaign - Croatia
UN resolution 46/36 –
Croatia
Campaign activities

9. Activities on main
squares
Activities on main squares
Activities in Roma
community settlements
Comic book workshops
SALW education in school
Campaign activities

10. Promo materials
Pencils T-shirts
Canvas bags Leaflets

11. Crime Prevention
Councils / Results
Increased community safety through projects
targeting situational prevention
Enhanced better cooperation and trust between
citizens and police
Community Policing Information System (CPIS)
Connection between Police and CPCs
BEFORE
Area of no use, lack of content, no lighting
AFTER
Environment well designed, fitness units and
lighting installed
RESULT
35,71% reduction in recorded offences
(July-October 2009)
15 Safe communities projects totally valued at
500.000 USD implemented 2009-2011

12. Thank you for your attention
krunoslav.katic@undp.org
THE END ?