Prostitution Policies in Croatia: A Critical Frame Analysis

Abstract

The paper analyzes how social and political actors in Croatia
understand prostitution by studying legal and policy
documents related to the phenomenon. It also analyzes
whether gender perspective is included in the existing or
proposed prostitution policies. By using critical frame
analysis, the paper identifies 5 dominant policy frames:
public peace and order frame, protection of sexual freedoms
frame, public health frame, gender-based violence frame,
and sex work frame. The fact that prostitution is rarely
discussed, and that only a limited number of actors deal
with the issue, suggests that prostitution in Croatia is still
understood as a taboo. The lack of discussion on prostitution
in policy documents produced by the Government, and
continuation of the inherited criminalization model suggests
that political elites support the public peace and order frame.
Only NGOs and the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality of
the Republic of Croatia elaborate the issue of prostitution
and advocate for a change in the existing legal and policy
framework. However, only NGOs working on harm reduction
include the voice of persons involved in prostitution.