{"id":21554,"date":"2025-02-28T14:07:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T12:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ombudsman.hr\/en\/?p=21737"},"modified":"2025-07-11T14:09:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T12:09:31","slug":"zero-discrimination-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ombudsman.hr\/en\/zero-discrimination-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Zero Discrimination Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

To be free from discrimination means to be a full-fledged member of society, without fear that the prejudices and stereotypes of others (or of the system) will build a wall between you and the life you are striving to achieve.<\/p>\n

Equality in Croatia is guaranteed by the Constitution, European and international law\u2014which form part of Croatian legislation\u2014and through several laws, primarily the Anti-Discrimination Act, which is the umbrella law for combating discrimination in the Republic of Croatia.<\/p>\n

However, equality is still often unattainable\u2014every fourth person in Croatia reports experiencing discrimination at least once in five years, and a large majority of citizens identify discrimination as one of the most significant social issues. This was demonstrated in a survey conducted by the Ombudswoman<\/a> and confirmed the ongoing need for strong efforts to combat discrimination.<\/p>\n

An opportunity to raise awareness of this issue is Zero Discrimination Day, observed every year on 1 March.<\/p>\n

To support efforts to inform the public about what discrimination is, how to recognize it and report it, we remind you of the Guide for Recognizing Discrimination<\/a>, which provides answers to the most important questions.<\/p>\n

Download the Guide [here<\/a>] and share it with anyone who may find it useful.<\/p>\n

Why it is important know how to recognize discrimination<\/strong><\/p>\n

In public discourse, various examples of injustice are often described as \u201cdiscrimination,\u201d which is not always accurate. That is, while all discrimination is a form of injustice, not all injustice constitutes discrimination in the legal sense.<\/p>\n

This distinction is not merely formal\u2014it determines what a person can do to protect themselves. The Anti-Discrimination Act prescribes forms of protection such as filing a complaint with the Ombudswoman, initiating a special lawsuit for protection from discrimination, shifting the burden of proof in civil proceedings to the defendant, and protecting the victim from further victimization.<\/p>\n

That is why it is important to know what is considered discrimination under the Anti-Discrimination Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Simply put, discrimination is any less favorable treatment of a person due to one or more of their characteristics (grounds).<\/p>\n

The grounds for discrimination listed in the Anti-Discrimination Act are: race or ethnic origin or skin color; sex; language; age; political or other belief; property status; education; national or social origin; trade union membership; disability; social status; marital or family status; health status; genetic heritage; religion; gender identity and expression; and sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

One of the most easily recognizable forms of discrimination is treating a person less favorably than another in a comparable situation, based on one or more of the discrimination grounds listed in the Act (direct discrimination).<\/p>\n

Examples include not hiring a Roma person due to their ethnicity, or dismissing a worker because of her membership in a trade union or a political party. On the other hand, if a landlord only accepts tenants without pets, this does not constitute discrimination.<\/p>\n

Discrimination also includes:<\/p>\n