On 21 March, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This Day is a reminder that racial discrimination remains one of the major global challenges, and of our shared responsibility to fight racism and promote tolerance and equality.
This is also the message of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted in 1965. Its implementation is monitored by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), a body of independent experts.
In July 2023, the Ombudswoman submitted a shadow report to CERD on the implementation of the Convention in Croatia, as part of its mandate as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with “A” status and in line with CERD General Recommendation No. 28 on the role of national human rights institutions in implementing the Convention and CERD recommendations.
The Report draws on complaints acted upon by the Ombudswoman, field work, research, and data collected from a broad range of stakeholders – including public authorities, civil society organisations, trade unions, employers, universities, and many others. It outlines the challenges in protection against racial or ethnic discrimination, comments on the most important strategic documents, highlights the most frequent complaints, and provides a detailed overview of the areas falling under CERD’s competence.
In Croatia, racial or ethnic discrimination is prohibited by the Constitution, EU law, binding international law, and national legislation – most notably the Anti-Discrimination Act, but also the Criminal Code and others. Still, racial or ethnic discrimination remains a problem, including towards foreign workers from third countries, whose numbers in Croatia have increased significantly in recent years.
Several cases have been recorded involving attacks, threats and insults directed at foreign workers. For example, in Zagreb, several physical attacks on workers of Filipino origin have been recorded, along with racist outbursts targeting delivery drivers of Indian and other backgrounds, and even public outrage over foreign workers participating in New Year’s Eve celebrations in Zagreb’s main square. Racist rhetoric targeting foreign workers – or anyone else based on their race or ethnicity – is completely unacceptable. The spread of prejudice and intolerance, which can lead to discrimination and violence, is further fuelled by the spread of disinformation and fearmongering about people with different skin colour.
That is why such incidents must be firmly opposed by society – primarily through effective and timely action by the competent institutions, including the appropriate punishment of perpetrators, which the Ombudswoman has publicly called for. Encouragingly, these cases have been reported and publicly condemned, because only through reporting can sanctions follow, perpetrators be held accountable, and a clear message be sent that racism and violence are unacceptable.
A key precondition for effectively, systematically and sustainably countering racial or ethnic discrimination is raising awareness and providing education on human rights and equality – from the earliest age, which the Ombudswoman has long advocated. For all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – without distinction of any kind.