Criminal offences against sexual freedom represent an area that is highly susceptible to change under the influence of prevailing social attitudes. In this sense, the legislative evolution of these criminal offences in the Republic of Croatia is presented, which, inter alia, shows the path to gender and sex neutrality and modern legal standards. A theoretical overview of selected relevant research is provided with regard to the codes selected for analysis, including discussions on gender myths, characteristics of perpetrators of the criminal offence of rape, power relations, the relationship between perpetrator and victim, the contribution of the victim, the influence of alcohol abuse, the evaluation of mitigating circumstances, and the type and length of sentence. The paper analyzes empirical material consisting of final verdicts in rape cases at the Osijek County Court from 2018 to 2022. The paper also seeks to raise awareness of secondary victimization, gender stereotypes, and deeper structural socio-cultural norms and values, present in various discourses, from family to legal. The need for education in a wider social context is indicated, insisting on an approach that eliminates moralism and raises awareness of some of the basic social functions of adequate criminal law responses to sexual violence.

Kaznena djela protiv spolne slobode predstavljaju područje izrazito podložno promjenama pod utjecajem prevladavajućih društvenih stavova. U tom smislu, prikazuje se legislativna evolucija ovih kaznenih djela u Republici Hrvatskoj, koja, inter alia, pokazuje put do rodne i spolne neutralnosti i suvremenih pravnih standarda. Donosi se teorijski pregled odabranih relevantnih istraživanja s obzirom na kodove odabrane za analizu, uključujući rasprave o rodnim mitovima, obilježjima počinitelja kaznenog djela silovanja, odnosima moći, odnosu počinitelja i žrtve, doprinosu žrtve, utjecaju zlouporabe alkohola, evaluaciji olakotnih okolnosti te izricanju vrste i duljine kazne. U radu se analizira empirijski materijal sačinjen od pravomoćnih presuda u slučajevima silovanja na Županijskom sudu u Osijeku 2018.-2022. godine. Radom se nastoji podići svijest i sekundarnoj viktimizaciji, rodnim stereotipima i dubljim strukturnim socio-kulturnim normamama i vrijednostima, prisutnima u različitim diskursima, od obiteljskog do pravnog. Ukazuje se na potrebu za edukacijom u širem društvenom kontekstu, inzistirajući pri tome na pristupu koji eliminira moralizam i osvještava neke od temeljnih društvenih funkcija adekvatnih kaznenopravnih odgovora na seksualno nasilje.