University of Belgrade – Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation; Victimology Society of Serbia
Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade; Victimology Society of Serbia
Received: December 3, 2023
Revision received: January 7, 2024
Accepted: January 8, 2024
UDK: 343.851:343.54/.55(497.11)
351.753(497.11)
Pages: 41-59
Possession of firearms, whether legally or illegally owned, is a risk factor for domestic violence, especially more severe forms of violence, including femicide. The paper aims to indicate that a prerequisite for effective suppression and prevention of the abuse of firearms in the family context is the understanding that this phenomenon is a consequence of social and gender norms that create and support gender inequalities in the society. The paper is based on the triangulation of data collected from various sources, including previous research, data collected and recorded by state authorities regarding the misuse of firearms in the family and partnership context, and positive legal regulations and public policies relevant to the suppression and response in case of domestic and parner violence with the use of firearms. Research shows that the presence of a firearm increases the risk of death in cases of domestic violence by five to nine times. Women constitute the majority of victims of family homicides by misuse of firearms. In most cases, they are victims of their partners. Despite the fact that the state has improved the legal and strategic framework for preventing domestic violence, the number of cases of armed violence in the family context remains stable. In addition, the number of women killed in a family-partner context on an annual basis in Serbia is at a similar level, without major fluctuations. These data suggest the need to improve the effectiveness of regulations and policies in the given field.
KEY WORDS: light and small arms / domestic violence / public policies / Law on Arms and Ammunition
