A Serbian family relocated to Croatia, settling in Jastrebarsko a few years ago, but their children soon became targets of bullying at the primary school "Ljubo Babić". The harassment was based solely on the children's Serbian ethnicity.

The family's oldest son was initially welcomed at school, but as time passed, the situation deteriorated. He and his younger brothers faced increasing harassment, with bullies calling them "chetniks," "fat," and "swine." The school's response was minimal, with minimal action taken beyond conversations and promises.

Worsening Abuse

The oldest son stopped eating and was on the brink of anorexia. The family sought help from a psychologist and enrolled him in a thematic treatment program. The mother reported the abuse to the school, but the principal retaliated with legal threats against the family and the Parents for Children association for exposing the school's misconduct.

The school denies running from the problem and claims to be following proper protocols and conducting preventive programs, counseling, and workshops with students and parents. They have reported incidents to the police and social services and initiated procedures to transfer students to other schools.

Parents' Struggle

A representative of the Parents for Children association, Helena Ančić, shared the family's story on TikTok and stated that the school has been covering up cases of bullying. The school has retaliated against her with legal action.

The family and the association plan to report these cases to all relevant authorities, emphasizing the need for action to address the bullying and harassment faced by Serbian children in Croatian schools.