Information activism and citizens’ criminal law literacy: Towards more effective protection of victims of domestic violence

The aim of this paper is to explore forms of information activism through cam­paigns of civic initiatives that demand policy solutions for the protection of victims of domestic violence. The research examines the credibility of legal information in these initiatives, with an emphasis on the importance of citizens’ information and criminal law literacy for effective participation in political processes. The purpose of the study is to expand scientific knowledge on information activism in protec­ting victims of domestic violence and to encourage discussion on the significance of citizens’ information literacy in the field of law in Croatia. A qualitative content ana­lysis method was applied to published texts of civic initiative demands addressing the issue of domestic violence. Owing to the collective strength of these initiatives, information activism can play an important role in raising public awareness and empowering society on this issue. Although civic initiatives advocate legislative changes, their core messages often convey strong public appeals that do not neces­sarily reflect accurate legal information, highlighting the need to strengthen citizens’ information literacy skills in the field of law.