On the occasion of the publication of Centre for Peace Studies’ and Welcome Initiative’s Report on Illegal Expulsions from Croatia in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic showing 6-year-long systemic violence and denial of access to asylum in Croatia, CSOs issue a joint statement that calls for end of systemic violence and human rights violations, conduct of independent and effective investigations, sanctions of those responsible for implementation and cover-up of illegal practices, and establishment of a truly independent and transparent border monitoring mechanism to ensure that such practices no longer occur.

In the context of migration in the Republic of Croatia, 2021 can be summed up in one sentence: There has never been more evidence of systematic violent and illegal pushbacks, and never less accountability of the political leadership of the Republic of Croatia.

The Centre for Peace Studies is a member of FRANET, a multidisciplinary research network of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. 

The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that Croatia illegally expels people. The judgement in the case of young Madina Hussiny that died during such expulsion in 2017 is not a shame only for the Ministry of the Interior or the police, but for the whole of Croatia, all of us, its citizens, and especially for the Government.

Four years after Madina’s death, Madina and her family finally got justice! Today, the European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling upholding violations of the right to life, of the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment, of the prohibition on collective expulsion, of the right to security and liberty, and of the right of individual petition.

On the International Day for Tolerance, on 16 November 2020, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published its data on hate crimes for 2020.

Global Education Week is an annual global initiative to raise awareness of the importance of developing global competence of young people and other citizens, and 2021 is held from 15 to 21 November under the motto "This is our world, let's start change together!".

The EU agency Frontex has been accused of illegally expelling refugees, which is why civil society organizations across Europe have launched the #NotOnOurBoorderWatch campaign, which was joined by the Centre for Peace Studies.

Violent and illegal expulsion of refugees from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina was recorded in high resolution for the first time and featured in the media across Europe. Forensic analysis of the footage showed that it is Croatian police officers who performed violent and illegal expulsion of refugees, which included beating and pushing into the river. Their uniforms correspond to the uniforms and equipment of the special police unit, which is according to certain indications linked to the so-called ‘Operation Corridor’, already mentioned by the police officers themselves.