Croatia

On 8 April 2021, the Government of Croatia adopted a new Protocol for Procedure in Cases of Hate Crimes, which entered into force on 23 April 2021 (Official Gazette, No. 43/2021). The Protocol sets forth roles and responsibilities of authorities involved in identifying, processing, monitoring and investigating hate crimes. It also includes provisions on the composition and competences of the Working Group for Monitoring Hate Crimes, on the form and content of the co-operation among relevant state authorities, and on hate crime training.  

According to the Protocol, the Government’s Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities  (OHRRNM) is the central body in charge of collecting and publishing data pertaining to hate crimes. The OHRRNM also has oversight of the system for combating hate crime and co-operating with civil society organizations (CSOs) and international organizations. On the basis of the data collected by the competent bodies referred to in the Protocol, the OHRRNM monitors the course of procedure in each single case, consolidates statistical hate crime data, and publishes them on its web page.  

According to the Protocol, the Working Group for Monitoring Hate Crimes at the OHRRNM consists of representatives institutions responsible for combating hate crime, academia, and relevant CSOs. The following CSOs have participated in the Working Group since June 2021: the Serbian National Council, the Jewish Community of Zagreb, the Roma Association in the Republic of Croatia "Kali Sara", Zagreb Pride, and the "Osijek" Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights). The Protocol also defines the specific forms used to collect statistical data on hate crime cases. 

In June 2021, ODIHR organized a diagnostic workshop on Assessing National Structures and Services for Hate Crime Victim Support, held as part of its hate crime victim support work. The workshop involved the active participation of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Police, the Police Academy, the Office of the State Attorney, the HROG, the Office of the Ombudswoman, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, the Office of the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities, CSOs and academia, and resulted in a set of recommendations to the relevant state authorities. 

Notable cases: 

Case 1: In August 2021, the Municipal Court in Pula-Pola found a person guilty of the offence of threat (Article 139, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code) in connection with Croatia's aggravating circumstances provision (Article 87, paragraph 21 of the Criminal Code). The perpetrator received a suspended sentence of six months’ imprisonment and a pecuniary fine for subjecting three persons in a parking lot to anti-Muslim insults, death threats and arson, while armed with a telescopic baton. 

Case 2: In September 2021, the Municipal Court in Split found a person guilty of the offence of incitement to violence under Article 325, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. The perpetrator received a suspended sentence of ten months' imprisonment and a pecuniary fine for having shared anti-LGBTI death threats on social networks in connection with the upcoming LGBTI pride parade in Split.