The Republic of Croatia
Positions for the Human Rights Council
I. Protecting and Promoting the Human Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers
The Republic of Croatia Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, addressed the United Nations General Assembly, on September 22, 2017 stating that, “Croatia in the past has been faced with acute refugee and migrant crisis. The approach we took has always been - and will always be - one that puts people first”[1] but Croatia opened its borders to more than eleven thousand migrants two years ago.
However, migrant workers are experiencing numerous of problems within Croatia’s boarders. The workplace in Croatia is not migrant friendly. Women and children frequentlyface various forms of discrimination and women are heavily underrepresented within the workforce. Most of these women are overworked and unpaid. It is necessary for the Republic of Croatia to make an effort to advocate for the fundamental human rights that migrants deserve. While Croatia’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, believes that “Croatia’s approach puts people first,” the country can still develop, progress, advance and implement improved approaches in protecting and promoting human rights for migrant domestic workers.
Currently, Croatia is working with other countries on reducing illegal movements of migrants, particularly from the Eastern Mediterranean, or the Balkan route.Simultaneously,Croatia attempts to address the root causes by providing financial support to countries of origin.[2]The Republic of Croatia strives to become a country that promotes and protects every individual’s rights, including migrant workers by focusing on their fundamental freedom, safety and dignity.Croatia would like to promote an environment within its country that reduces the risk and fear of migrant workers being held in detention. The Republic of Croatia requests aid from other member states to provide an educational program for migrants to promote self-sufficiency and independence. The creation of a health-care plan would also be beneficial for migrant workers as well as, the economy in Croatia.[3]Croatia’s overall goal is to make migrant workers feel welcomed and safe within Croatia’s borders.
II. Combating Human Trafficking Among Refugees and Displaced Persons
The Republic of Croatia acknowledges the complexity of dealing with human trafficking among refugees and displaced persons with 14.4. million refugees in the world, 5.1. million refugees in 60 camps across the Middle East run by theUNRWA[4], and more than 60 million displaced people in the world.[5]
Throughout history, and still to this day,Croatia has been dealing with the issue of human trafficking where women, children, and men are being trafficked across national borders on a large scale. Women, and girls, from Eastern Europe are both trafficked to, and through, Croatia where they are sold into sexual slavery. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of trafficked men for the purpose of forced labor with Croatia serving as a destination, not just a transfer country.[6]
In order to combat this issue, Croatia’s government realizes the importance of fulfilling standards for the abolition of human trafficking. Since 2008, Croatia has increased the punishment and prosecutingefforts for trafficking offenders and will continue to improve and advance in those areas under Croatia’s trafficking law.The government of Croatia in collaboration with the British government and the IOM has been improving its inclusive and active training program, by traininggovernment and nongovernmental actors,police officers, and border police to be able to help and identify victims of trafficking. Additionally, in 2008, the government incorporated “a minimum mandatory sentence of five years for any state official’s involvement in trafficking.”[7]In 2008, the government of Croatia financially supported various NGOs with over $160,000 in the purpose of providing shelter and assistance to victims of trafficking in 2008. While doing so, the Republic of Croatia has been putting much emphasize on introducing new awareness and prevention raising projects. Croatia will keepincreasing its efforts to identify victims of trafficking, guarantee a reliable deportation of victims from overseas, inspect trafficking alongside the Croatian coastline, the Adriatic coast, that might be taking place due to increased tourism, educate consumers and the tourist industry about forced labor and sexual exploitation and how to identify victims of trafficking,and improve prosecution efforts and keep increasing the punishment for convicted trafficking offenders all while increasing awareness.[8]
However, although the Republic of Croatia has put in significant efforts and shown leadership in preventing and combating trafficking among refugees and displaces persons in Croatia, the country still faces intense trafficking issues and a lot of improvement efforts canbe implemented. Therefore, the Republic of Croatia calls upon all member states to addressthe current complex trafficking crisis affecting modern day Croatia. The Republic of Croatia promotesfurther harmonization, information sharing, and collaboration between member states and with other European bodies, like the Council of Europe. The Republic of Croatia emphasizes the important role of governments to implement prevention, prosecutions, and protection commitments in order to minimize the exposure of vulnerable populations that are receptive to human trafficking, like refugees and displaced persons. The Republic of Croatia proposes that governments make efforts to tackle the root causes of this vulnerable population, starting with dealing with work place discrimination and offering access to education. Furthermore, Croatia stresses the importance of member states collaborating in order to fight human trafficking Among refugees and displaced persons so that the present coinciding frameworks can be amplified.[9]
[1]Government of the Republic of Croatia, “Address of Andrej Plenković PM of the Republic of Croatia at the 72nd session of the General Assembly of the UN”:
[2]Ibid.
[3] United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, “10 Key Messages on protecting and Promoting the Human Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers”:
[4]UN Refugee Agency, “Refugees”:
[5]Pew Research Center,“Key Facts About the World's Refugees”:
[6]Extracted from U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2009, “Croatia (Tier 1)”:
[7]Ibid.
[8]Ibid.
[9]U.S. Mission to the OSCE, “Combating human trafficking; Refugees and displaced persons: HDIM 2015, Session 11”: