Changes in child sexual victimization during pandemics in Croatia

Abstract

Introduction: All countries around the world have experienced many changes due to COVID-19 pandemic and many of them affected children, directly or indirectly. Schools were closed in many countries and children were transferred to virtual learning environments, confined to their homes with restricted opportunities for usual ways of socializing with friends. Those circumstances increased time children spend online, both for educational and social purposes. Many organizations, both governmental and non-governmental expressed concerns regarding possible impact of COVID-19 isolation measures on sex crimes against children, online as well as offline. Obtaining epidemiological data on child sexual abuse is connected with many methodological and ethical issues, especially in pandemic times. In times when the governmental anti- pandemic measures are still in force, we can rely only on official statistics, bearing in mind all limitations of this source of data. Aim: The aim of this paper is to analyse child sexual abuse reported to the Croatian police in 2019 and 2020 in order to observe any changes that might be understood as a consequence of governmental isolation measures. Method: Official police statistics for sex crime against children in 2019 and 2020 (on a monthly basis) were obtained from Department for juvenile delinquency and child protection. Results: A decrease of 20% in total number of sex crimes against children is observed. Conclusion: Changes in specific criminal offences on a monthly basis are elaborated in the paper, as well as possible measures for better protection of children from child sexual abuse in pandemic times.