ABSTRACT
The Republic of Croatia has accepted a number of international and regional documents protecting the rights of children. More accurately, exYugosiavia, of which Croatia was a part, ratified those documents. In 1991, Croatia declared independence from the federation and was recognized as a sovereign and independent country. Family violence is one part of the total violence in society. The word 'abuse' is generally understood as a misuse of power in relationships which are not based on equal terms. Victims of family violence are most likely to be children, women and older family members; violence is either physical sexual or mental and emotional abuse. Each type of abuse may be either 'active' or 'passive'. The offender in the case of adolescent abuse and adolescent neglect is always a parent, whether married or not, including a stepfather or stepmother, adoptive parents, or guardian or other person responsible for supporting and caring for the adolescent.
