Rape with a different name: legal and practical problems in distinction of crimes against sexual freedom in Croatia’s Criminal law

Seksualni delikti jedno su od najtežih oblika kršenja ljudskih prava te se konstantno regulira Kaznenim zakonom. Počinitelji seksualnih delikata dijele neke zajedničke karakteristike. Većina ima prisutne kognitivne distorzije, nedostatak empatije, povijest zlostavljanja te socijalne i interpersonalne deficite, a dio uzroka seksualnih delikata može se pronaći i u kulturnom okruženju. Iako rodno neutralna skupina djela, žrtve kaznenih djela protiv spolne slobode pretežito su žene, a počinitelji muškarci. Kaznena djela protiv spolne slobode doživjela su velike promjene izmjenama Kaznenog zakona 2011. godine. Novo kazneno djelo, spolni odnošaj bez pristanka, u ovom se radu prikazuje kroz svoje pojavne oblike. Prikazuju se i ostale kontroverze koje su se pojavile u novom Zakonu, uključujući definiciju pristanka i teret dokazivanja pristanka na spolni odnošaj. Promatrana statistika pokazuje smanjenje prijava i osuda za kazneno djelo silovanja unazad posljednjih nekoliko godina, u usporedbi s prijavama i osudama prije donošenje Kaznenog zakona 2011. godine, a i uz kvalificirane (teže) oblike kaznenih djela silovanja i spolnog odnošaja bez pristanka, zatvorske kazne za ova djela i dalje su pretežno niske.Sexual offences are one of the most severe forms of human rights violations and it is constantly regulated by Criminal law. Perpetrators of sexual offences share some common characteristics. Cognitive distortions are present amongst most, as well as lack of empathy, history of abuse and social and interpersonal deficit. Part of the cause of sexual offences could also be found in cultural environment. Although gender neutral group of offences, victims of criminal offences against sexual freedom are mostly women, and perpetrators mostly men. Criminal offences against sexual freedom have suffered great changes with new Criminal law in 2011. New criminal offence, non-consensual sexual intercourse, is shown through its manifested forms. Other controversy that has appeared in the Law, including the definition of consent and burden of proof on the consent for sexual intercourse. The observed statistics shows reduction of charges and convictions for the crime of rape in the last couple of years, in comparison to charges and convictions before new Criminal law in 2011., and even with qualified (more severe) forms of crimes of rape and non-consensual sexual intercourse, penalties for this crimes are still predominantly low