Report on the Performance of Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism for 2015
countries. Their analysis shows that availability of preventive healthcare contributes to better
health condition of patients, but also contributes to savings when compared to the provision
of emergency medical assistance only.
Conduct of police officers
On average, 400 police officers worked with refugees at points of entry, in the camp and on
transfers in 12-hour shifts every day. They had orders not to use force. Despite numerous
challenges and pressure, weather conditions, and a large number of people who passed
through the territory of the Republic of Croatia, there were no
The conduct of police
incidents involving the police. In our visits to all key points of
officers towards
movement, including night-time visits, we did not see any conduct
refugees was
that would count as human rights violations. The conduct of police
professional and
officers towards refugees was professional and humane and
humane and it was
particularly sensitized towards vulnerable groups. Along with the
particularly
performance of their regular duties, police officers handed out
sensitized towards
blankets and clothing, helped women and children board and get off
vulnerable groups.
buses and trains, and they cooperated with volunteers and civil
society organizations that still reported about harsh and verbally inappropriate conduct of
police officers towards refugees on several occasions, but we have not received confirmation
of such conduct.
Serious incidents among refugees themselves were not recorded, and the means of coercion
were used twice. In one case, pepper spray was used to protect children from pushing and
shoving in the crowd, and in the other case, physical force and binding aids to prevent a person
from jumping off of a train.
Availability of information
One of the biggest problems at the very beginning of the refugee crisis related to insufficient
and delayed information to refugees and the stakeholders involved, including police officers,
representatives of associations and international organizations, volunteers, about the place the
refugees were located, the expected duration of stay and the care provided. That is why there
was dissatisfaction and frustration, but also minor protests, the making of noise, etc.
In the first few days this was particularly visible at the railway station in Tovarnik, because of
the lack of interpreters, among other things, and a special problem was that refugees were not
informed about the right to request international protection. Although it is impossible to
provide all information about all relevant issues, it was still noted that there was significant
improvement after the opening of Opatovac Camp. Representatives of civil society
organizations and international organizations provided all relevant information in everyday
direct contacts with refugees, including how it was possible to submit applications for
international protection. However, it was still known to happen that there was no information
available about the arrival of a train or bus or about the distribution of clothing.
47
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents