Croatia

Croatia regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Croatia's hate crime laws are a combination of a general penalty-enhancement provision and penalty-enhancement provisions for specific offences. Croatia's criminal code also includes a statutory definition of hate crime. Hate crime data are collected by the Ministry of Interior, the Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities. Data on hate crime are regularly published by the Government's Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities.

Hate crime data collection in Croatia
Support for hate crime victims in Croatia

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2020 87 138 18
2019 48 117 10
2018 33 23 8
2017 25 16 12
2016 35 37 7
2015 24 27 7
2014 22 60 6
2013 35 57 8
2012 17 19 15
2011 57 20 10
2010 34 34 3
2009 32 Not available Not available

National developments

In 2015, Croatia made hate crime data publically available for the first time. Data can be found on the website of the Office for human rights and rights of national minorities.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

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Reports

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Centre for Peace Studies, OSIJEK and Documenta reported two physical assaults, including one carried out by a group on a Ugandan man and one targeting a man of Gambian descent. The Centre for Peace Studies reported three further physical assaults, two of which were carried out by groups, one incident in which a group of schoolchildren were attacked by a group of assailants, two threats, and one incident of graffiti on a school. OSIJEK and Documenta also reported one incident of vandalism that involved graffiti.

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INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-Roma hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime

In its "Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Croatia", the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) called for strengthened efforts to combat racist attacks committed by law enforcement personnel, including against Roma people, by providing training and ensuring that hate crimes are properly investigated and prosecuted. The HRC highlighted the need to counter hate crimes against LGBT people, by ensuring that they are thoroughly investigated and offenders are prosecuted and sanctioned.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Following its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Croatian authorities made the commitment to examine and respond to recommendations to ensure the efficient, non-discriminatory and timely investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Croatia could benefit from encouraging victims to report hate crimes and could consider increasing co-operation with civil society in that respect.