We have found degrading treatment and violations of constitutional and legal rights in homes
for the elderly and disabled as well, including situations when a person has been placed in the
home without giving explicit consent, or when their privacy has not been respected. The longterm care system is insufficiently staffed, which is directly connected to the quality of the
services.
In only one year, the number of applicants for international protection in Croatia has increased
by 957%. It was not followed by the adequate increase of capacities within the Ministry of
Interior, which has prolonged the time necessary for the decision to be reached and caused the
rise in the number of unresolved applications. We have found a number of problems faced by
the applicants for international protection and irregular migrants, including the unclear criteria
for the restriction of movement or those caused by the organization of healthcare. We have
also acted on complaints regarding returns of several hundred persons to Serbia without
applying the individual process, who also claimed the police officers beat them and confiscated
their personal belongings. The Ministry of Interior denied the allegations, and we have
recommended prompt initiation of an effective investigation, in order to prevent the treatment
that may represent violation of Article 3 of ECHR.
The conclusions and recommendations presented in this Report are intended to be used by
both experts and the general public – those working with persons deprived of their liberty,
members of their families, officials within public authorities, members of the Parliament, civil
society organizations, academic society, media and many others. I believe that doing so can
more strongly impact not only the level of respect for human rights, but also the fight against
stereotypes and prejudice in our society.
Last, but not least, the Report is intended for all those whose stronger protection of rights it
advocates for – anyone who has at any point of their lives been placed in a facility under the
NPM authorities, or is there at this moment.
Lora Vidović,
Ombudswoman