Croatia
In early 2026, Croatia—a member of the EU and the Schengen Area—is characterized by a generally high standard of human rights, though it faces persistent challenges regarding migration, judicial efficiency, and a recent, controversial tightening of media laws. In November 2025, the country underwent its fourth UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which highlighted both legislative progress and areas of lingering concern.
1. Migration and Border Management
The most scrutinized human rights issue remains the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers at the borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Pushbacks and Violence: While the government established an Independent National Monitoring Mechanism (INMM), international bodies (including the Council of Europe) continue to receive reports of "collective expulsions" and the use of excessive force by border police. As of 2026, concerns persist that these mechanisms lack the full independence needed to effectively end impunity.
Asylum Access: Human rights groups report that asylum seekers often face significant administrative hurdles. In late 2025, Croatia temporarily suspended processing for Syrian applicants following geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, leaving dozens in legal limbo.
2. Press Freedom and Media Law
2025 and 2026 have seen a noted "chilling effect" on Croatian journalism due to new legislative measures.
Criminalizing Leaks: A controversial March 2025 law made it a criminal offense to leak information from official police investigations to the media. While the government claims this protects the integrity of the judiciary, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) and EU watchdogs have condemned it as an attack on public-interest journalism.
SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) remain a major burden. As of early 2026, there are over 750 active lawsuits against journalists, most of which are defamation cases brought by high-ranking politicians or business figures intended to drain the financial resources of independent outlets.
Minority Media Under Threat: In early 2026, the right-wing Homeland Movement (part of the ruling coalition) announced plans to defund Novosti, the primary weekly newspaper for the Serb minority, sparking fears of increased ethnic polarization.
3. Domestic Violence and Gender Rights
Croatia has taken significant legal steps recently, but cultural and institutional barriers remain.
Criminalizing Femicide: In early 2025, Croatia became one of the first EU countries to introduce femicide (the aggravated murder of a woman because of her gender) as a distinct criminal offense.
Implementation Gaps: Despite new laws, 2026 reports from the Ombudsman for Gender Equality indicate that survivors of domestic violence still face "secondary victimization" by a slow judicial system. Roughly 80% of domestic violence victims in Croatia are women, and conviction rates for gender-based violence remain lower than advocates demand.
4. Rights of the Roma Minority
The Roma community continues to face systemic discrimination and social exclusion.
Segregation in Education: "Roma-only" classes persist in some northern regions (such as Međimurje), despite multiple rulings from the European Court of Human Rights.
Living Conditions: Many Roma settlements lack basic infrastructure, including clean water and electricity. In early 2026, the UN highlighted that Roma families face significant barriers in accessing the social benefit schemes and adequate housing guaranteed to other citizens.
5. Judicial Independence and Corruption
While the "Rule of Law" report for 2025 noted some progress in judicial salaries, public trust in the courts remains among the lowest in the EU.
Political Influence: In 2025, the appointment of a new Attorney General with alleged ties to high-profile corruption suspects caused significant public outcry.
Wartime Justice: Decades after the 1990s conflict, survivors of wartime sexual violence still face a "traumatic bureaucratic labyrinth" to receive official status and state compensation, with many cases remaining unresolved in 2026