Development of Victimology and the Victims’ Rights Movement in Serbia

Abstract

The situation of victims in Serbia has received increasing attention during recent decades, both by researchers and by society at large. First systematized scientific papers and empirical research in the field of victimology, as well as first initiatives for improvement of the position of victims in Serbia occurred in 1980s, with feminists having an important role in both. During 1990s the influence of other factors was added: initiatives of human rights organisations, development of victimology as an academic discipline, increase of crime, ethnic conflicts on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and related humanitarian initiatives. Advocacy of civil society contributed to a great extent to the changes of the state’s relationship toward victims’ issues that occurred only after political changes in 2000. Since 2012, in the context of the EU accession process and harmonization of Serbian legislation and policy with the EU aquis, more favourable climate for wider social acceptance of a holistic approach to the rights of all victims and their support and assistance has been created. This paper will present an overview and analysis of development of victimology and the victims’ rights movement in Serbia, as well as to evaluate it bearing in mind larger context of development as well as current status of victimology and advocacy for victims’ rights. Victimology and the victims’ rights movement in Serbia will be presented following the development through four periods.