Mistreatment/abuse

The Act on Protection against Family Violence of 2003 covers the issue of violence perpetrated within families and therefore covers the case of violence towards a relative with dementia.  The definition of violence is very comprehensive and includes restriction of freedom of movement and presumably various coercive measures.

“Family violence is any use of physical force or psychological pressure against the integrity of a person; any other behaviour of a family member which can cause or potentially cause physical or psychological pain; causing feelings of fear or being personally endangered or feeling of offended dignity; physical attack regardless of whether or not it results in physical injury, verbal assaults, insults, cursing, name-calling and other forms of severe disturbance; sexual harassment; stalking and other forms of disturbance; illegal isolation or restriction of the freedom of movement or communication with third persons; damage or destruction of property or attempts to do so.” (Cited by the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, 2009).

Reference

United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (2009), The UN Secretary-General’s database on violence against women: extract on Croatia. Accessed online on 20 October 2011 at: http://webapps01.un.org/vawdatabase/searchDetail.action?measureId=6015&baseHREF=country&baseHREFId=388