Croatia | HCRW

Croatia regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR.

Since 2006, Croatia has implemented ODIHR's Law Enforcement Outreach Programme (LEOP) followed by the updated Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme.

In 2021, the government adopted an updated inter-agency "Protocol for Procedure in Cases of Hate Crime", establishing state authorities' responsibilities in addressing hate crime and revised the responsibilities of the dedicated Working Group for monitoring hate crimes. In 2021, the Working Group participated in ODIHR's diagnostic workshop to assess national structures and services for hate crime victim support, resulting in a set of ODIHR recommendations to the relevant state authorities. Data on hate crimes are regularly published by the Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities (OHRRNM).

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2015 hate crime report for Croatia

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2023	85	33	9
2022	80	24	14
2021	101	57	11
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

Download official data

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.

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.

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

Download incident data

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.

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.