Report on war crimes, discrimination, the rights of victims of war – October 2016.
In this report we have selected several European Court of Human Rights (EctHR)’ decisions against Croatia, those connected with the war crimes trials, freedom of speech and the rights of civilian war victims. Particularly, we would like to emphasize the judgment of the European Court in the case Cindric and Beslic v. Croatia, what we see as a confirmation of our long-standing commitment related to the advocacy for writing-off of costs of civil proceedings for compensation for damages for the death of a close person during the war.
Working with victims (direct or relatives of those killed or missing) of unprocessed war crimes, their biggest problem is that some of them are continued to suffer from paying litigation costs because they lost the lawsuit in which they sought compensation from the state for survived torture or the death of their loved ones. Croatian Government in July 2012 brought Directive for writing off debts for socially vulnerable citizens, and even the cost of court proceedings. The directive did not solve the problem in a satisfactory manner. According to our information, in some cases enforcement is already launched and implemented. For the Republic of Croatia is shameful this victimization and it is contrary with the many international instruments; Fundamental Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the EU directives, in particular Directive 2012/29 / EC on the establishment minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.
The report contains an overview of war crimes trials in October 2016.