At the end of July, the traditional Summer ELSA Law School dedicated to human rights and globalisation was held in Zadar. As part of this year’s 26th edition, Deputy Ombudswoman Dijana Kesonja delivered a lecture on 31 July 2026 on the protection of workers’ rights, with particular emphasis on the right to work.

Highlighting some of the most common problems faced by workers in Croatia, as well as the various ways in which their rights may be violated, Deputy Ombudswoman Kesonja also presented the role, powers and procedures of the Ombudswoman institution. In particular, she addressed its mandates as the central national equality body and as the competent authority for external reporting of irregularities in the context of the protection of reporting persons, commonly referred to as whistleblowers.

Speaking about discrimination, Deputy Ombudswoman Kesonja explained what constitutes discrimination, the protected grounds on which it may occur and the areas in which it may arise. Drawing on examples from case law, she also presented students with specific cases of discrimination in the field of work and employment.

The students were particularly interested in the protection of reporting persons. Deputy Ombudswoman Kesonja therefore explained the relevant legal framework, focusing in particular on the criteria for entitlement to protection laid down in the Act on the Protection of Persons Reporting Irregularities. She also addressed the work of the institution as the competent authority for external reporting of irregularities, both in cases involving the reporting of irregularities alone and in cases where reporting persons also state that they have suffered retaliation as a result of reporting them.