Women who have experienced violence often meet representatives of institutions for the first time during a health examination, and this is sometimes their only opportunity to confide in somebody, for someone to notice their injuries and recognize the consequences of the violence they are exposed to. 

Together with the police, basic public prosecutor’s offices and social welfare centers, health care plays an important part in the system for the prevention of and protection from domestic violence. The role of the healthcare system is defined by the Ministry of Health’s Special Protocol for the Protection and Treatment of Women Victims of Violence. This is a significant guiding document for doctors, not only in terms of detecting and documenting violence, but also for better understanding this problem, as well as approaching and communicating with survivors in a way that shows solidarity and support.  

Healthcare professionals can contribute to increasing survivors’ readiness to report violence, and also provide survivors with all the necessary protection and support, in cooperation with other institutions.  

“Healthcare institutions are an important part of combating domestic violence, especially preventing it. We have many survivors who have never contacted the police, the prosecutor’s office or a social welfare center, but have turned to a healthcare institution for medical help”, says Gorjana Mirčić Čaluković, Deputy Public Prosecutor and Coordinator for Gender-based Violence at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade. 

Healthcare institutions possess a range of data, even evidence that can be relevant for initiating criminal proceedings. This is why doctors who report violence are an important link in recognizing and preventing domestic violence. 

“This does not only imply information regarding physical injuries, but also other conditions, anxiety, nausea, depression, something based on which healthcare professionals may suspect the presence of violence. When such information is shared with the public prosecutor’s office, we can detect a criminal act”, the Deputy Public Prosecutor explains.

A detailed medical report is not only relevant for supporting the work of the police and prosecution, but also because it additionally protects the violence survivor: testimonies that are recorded can be used in further proceedings, without exposing women to more trauma or secondary victimisation.  

Gorjana Mirčić Čaluković was one of the trainers at the workshop dedicated to the role of the healthcare system in preventing domestic violence, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She points out that the involvement of healthcare institution managers is very important, as they are the ones who should organize teams for gender-based violence prevention in their healthcare centres. Small community healthcare centres, those that do not have such teams, can always rely on the support of the public prosecutor’s office, which coordinates the work of Groups for Coordination and Cooperation. These also involve the active participation of representatives of the police and social welfare centers, but they can also include representatives of healthcare institutions, schools, the employment service or non-governmental organizations. The groups have been established based on the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence, with the task to regularly discuss all newly-reported and active domestic violence cases and plan protection and support measures.