Nasilje u porodici

Abstract

The new Family Act of the Republic of Serbia establishes normative system in the field of family law matters, which is compatible to the contemporary European laws and practice. Family violence is for the first time legally regulated in the field of Serbian civil law. This paper intends to demonstrate different forms of family violence, its range, as well as legal solutions established in order to define the problem and rules of procedure for adopting safeguard measures against the family violence. The court practice in the matters of protection against violence is still being developed. The Family Act establishes specialized court panels for these kinds of legal matters. Judges are required to obtain special knowledge in the field of children's rights, while the lay judges are supposed to be persons who gained experience by working with children and young people. In order to provide the victims of the family violence with the appropriate court protection, it is necessary to establish coordinated action and cooperation between courts, police, prosecution, court for minor offences social service, health institutions, educational centers and non-governmental organizations.