Belgrade, November 25, 2024 – With the aim of drawing attention to forms of violence against women that are not sufficiently recognised as dangerous, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will educate the public about coercive control in relationships as part of this year’s “It Is My Business” campaign. This is the sixth year the UNDP is launching the campaign as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”.

Limiting contact with friends and family, constant criticism and accusations, tracking movements, monitoring daily activities, imposing restrictions on decision-making or employment are just a few examples of controlling behaviours in relationships. The abuser seeks to isolate the victim and, over time, make them dependent and powerless.

Such behaviour is sometimes misinterpreted as jealousy, but can escalate into much more serious and dangerous forms of violence that are potentially fatal. UNDP analysis of femicide cases involving firearms has shown that in 2/3 of cases where women were killed with firearms - the perpetrator exhibited signs of jealousy. Studies of femicides with subsequent suicide by the perpetrator have also shown that in 81% of these cases, the perpetrators displayed controlling behaviour towards their partners before the murders.

As part of this year's “It Is My Business” campaign, the UNDP will use Instagram and Facebook to highlight various situations and tactics of isolation and control in relationships, particularly targeting women and girls. The aim is to promote early recognition and intervention.

Control in a relationship has far-reaching psychological and physical consequences for the victim. It can lead to social isolation and financial insecurity, making it difficult to end an abusive relationship. Research by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia indicates that women who have experienced some form of violence are more likely to be isolated. One in three women who have experienced violence see their close ones only once a year or even less often. These women often lack trusted people they can turn to in case of abuse. 

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 192 or 0800 100 600!

Additional information on reporting violence and the measures taken by the institutions can be found on the "Switch off Violence" website: https://iskljuci-nasilje.rs/la/eng/.

If you are not ready to report the violence but would like to talk to someone about it, contact organisations that help women in violent situations: https://www.zeneprotivnasilja.net/en/about-us/list-of-ngos.

The campaign “Jealousy is not love” #ItIsMyBusiness is supported by the project “Ending Violence – empowering change”, jointly implemented by the UNDP, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with the support of the Government of Sweden. The project contributes to creating a society in which gender-based discrimination and violence are unacceptable, women’s rights are protected and women and men participate and contribute equally in all aspects of life.