You can contact the Ombudsman if you think you have been discriminated against, however, you can also start court proceedings to determine discrimination by a court and to receive damages.

Important: the Ombudsman has authority to act on complaints starting with January 1st 2009, therefore, the complaint must relate to events which have happened after January 1st 2009.

If you contact the Ombudsman before starting court proceedings and report discrimination, the Ombudsman will provide you with necessary information regarding your rights and obligations and  possibilities of court and other protection, your complaint will be examined and the Ombudsman will take actions falling within his competence required for elimination of discrimination and protection of rights of discriminated persons. With the parties’ consent, the Ombudsman has the power to conduct mediation with a possibility of reaching an out-of-court settlement.

If you have already instigated court proceedings, the Ombudsman will not be able to handle your complaint, but can, in certain cases, become involved in the court proceedings as an intervener.

A COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION TO THE OMBUDSMAN

Before submitting a complaint, we suggest you read What is discrimination? on our web page.

Although it is not obligatory to use this form, we suggest you do use it in order to be sure you have included all the information we might need to handle your complaint.

You can download form here - download

You may send complaints to

PUČKI PRAVOBRANITELJ/OMBUDSMAN
10 000 Zagreb
Opatička 4
- T  01/485-1855 - F 01/630-3014 
- e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In case you do not use the form, data you should include in your complaint of discrimination are:

- your name, last name and address, if possible telephone number

(the Ombudsman may act on anonymous complaints, but obviously, we will not be able to respond ; if you do not wish that the body/person you are complaining about finds out your identity please make a note and we will fully protect your identity)

- body/person  that you are complaining about

- in case there is already a case file at an appropriate body-  reference number of the file

-description of discrimination:

1) discrimination ground based on which you think you may have been discriminated against (e.g. age, ethnic origin)

2) description of discriminatory act/behaviour (form of discrimination) (e.g. being insulted at the workplace - listing details and possible witnesses)

It is useful to attach copies of official acts and other relevant documents to your complaint.