Stalking as a form of domestic violence in Slovenia

• In Event: Trends in Domestic abuse

Abstract

One of the most prevalent forms of domestic violence in former-partner relationships is stalking. Stalking refers to a series of repeated, long-term actions that instil fear and anxiety in the individual targeted. This may include direct, in-person contact, but increasingly, it takes the form of communication through phone calls, messages, social media interactions, letters, and similar methods. The perpetrator may attempt to reach the victim at various locations, such as their home, workplace, or public spaces.
Both the broader issue of domestic violence and the specific act of stalking are phenomena predominantly committed by men and primarily directed toward women. Research indicates that such violence is more likely to occur following the dissolution of a partnership.
At the Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law, we have initiated a research project funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) and the Slovenian Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities. This project explores the issue of stalking from multiple perspectives. We aim to examine case law by analysing a representative sample of cases, specifically focusing on judgments related to criminal offenses under Article 191 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia (KZ-1). Based on both domestic and international research, we anticipate that a considerable portion of these judgments will reflect characteristics indicative of stalking behaviour. We will present some preliminary results of this analysis.

Author

• Eva Bertok, Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law Ljubljana, Slovenia