Serbian officials called for urgent measures to combat widespread domestic violence in the country following the killing of two women and a child at social-care centers in Belgrade this month. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said that he will demand stricter punishments in domestic violence cases.
Domestic violence in the conservative Balkan country has soared since the wars of the 1990s.
Activists warned that the incidents have exposed problems in Serbia's protection system. There are reports that 22 women have been killed by their husbands or partners this year.
On Wednesday, a man killed his ex-wife and son and wounded three social workers just outside a social-care center. Last week, a man killed his wife with a stone in front of their three children in another center.
Tanja Ignjatovic, from the Autonomous Women's Center rights group, told N1 television that the latest incidents were the result of "classic system failure."
Authorities said measures will include installing panic buttons in 60 social-care centers. Social workers have threatened to go on strike unless security is beefed up.
