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.