’WPCQ “ć£ ~ģć9¦’÷Ź^?`”!n,ØŃxņ.U ņążÄ`•Ž<ńĢ䎩.ŻÉćrøŠÆ>øĄ`}`>/L8 :(™bĮ)1 {gšĪK0×2ƒ¼Ī‰~8ŁŒ…ČšģT§@ņłÆ'µ’’U»ņ»QįŅ¦ŻŌ¼ŪŲŠl¦ń+^Å-¼č.–PŸÜ ¤ēŸŠ„‚‹Ūll„Są~rA Š£rz*ų,}ė÷o>éöĆj@TČ³d"Łā“?×oēÕi5nœĻ(CÉ~ü{#RįXr)Ž+*a–jĢ¹<** ¦C€ķ~s„µ¾ hÜ/3 ŠO'ęOÕåы¦Ø2|N±’ <;9Ój? zœéąĘ‰J–žC£’E.€XM1µĻDy0Āč ā4ÅÖ¢ ;{™3ü ó7pv”f{-eųMMyŚu¼`ž„’)§CŌ}™•3ĻvĪp˜Ż5p°-˜!ķyv’ģš{£ś‰Ću„‡H«Ó鳓I„£xc?€œ£Ģ [}Ł€Züę4žÆæ:¬¾óó¤œCĀ[ż®"2Łī"Ś¼d*4ą³Ž)å"“3|—Āɤ`—Ī¦žńõ:Ś“\|Y®KDŅĆsssssssssssssssssss 0 ±˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō’~a, ½ha+.wpd3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ ō\  `‹&Times New Roman65 (’’4Heading 3Ō UK ŌŌ‡XXXŌņ ņŌ  ŌŌ  ŌŌ US ŌŌ‡ōōōŌó óŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ‡¼|p»XXŌņ ņÓ  ÓCROATIA€ó óŌ#†X!^X»¼|p=#ŌŠ ° ŠÓ_ÓÓ  ÓĢĢņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/48/40€(1993)ó óŠ “ć ŠĢĢ333.€€Deeply€concerned€by€recent€and€current€events€in€the€territory€of€the€former€YugoslaviaŠ O Ÿ Šaffecting€human€rights€protected€under€the€Covenant,€having€noted€that€all€the€peoples€within€theŠ 8 ˆ Šterritory€of€the€former€Yugoslavia€were€entitled€to€the€guarantees€of€the€Covenant,€finding€that€theŠ ! q Šnew€States€within€the€boundaries€of€the€former€Yugoslavia€succeeded€to€the€obligations€of€theŠ  Z  Šformer€Yugoslavia€under€the€Covenant€in€so€far€as€their€respective€territories€were€concerned,€andŠ ó C  Šacting€under€article€40,€paragraph€1€(b),€of€the€Covenant,€on€9€October€1992,€the€CommitteeŠ Ü,  Šrequested€the€Government€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia€to€submit€a€short€report€on€certain€issues€inŠ Å  Šrespect€of€persons€and€events€now€coming€under€its€jurisdiction€by€30€October€1992€(see€para.€36Š ®ž  Šand€annex€VII).€€Š —ē  ŠĢ334.€€The€report€submitted€by€the€Republic€of€Croatia€pursuant€to€the€aforementioned€decision€wasŠ i¹ Šconsidered€by€the€Committee€at€its€1201st€and€1202nd€meetings,€on€4€November€1992Š R¢ Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.1201€and€1202).€€(For€the€composition€of€the€delegation,€see€annex€XI.)€Š ;‹ ŠĢ335.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who€explained€that€anyŠ  ] Šconsideration€of€the€situation€in€Croatia€had€to€be€based€on€a€distinction€between€the€aggressor€andŠ öF Šthe€victim€and€take€duly€into€account€the€background€against€which€the€development€and€presentŠ ß/ Šstatus€of€human€rights€in€Croatia€had€evolved.€€The€first€free€elections€in€the€spring€of€1991€andŠ Č ŠCroatia's€declaration€of€independence€in€June€1991€had€led€to€riots€and€rebellion€by€a€part€of€theŠ ± ŠSerbian€minority€in€Croatia€with€the€incitement€and€strong€support€of€the€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€in€Belgrade€andŠ šź Šof€the€so-called€Yugoslav€People's€Army.€€Those€events€culminated€in€open€military€aggressionŠ ƒÓ Šagainst€Croatia€aiming€at€occupation,€ethnic€cleansing€and€annexation€of€its€territory.€€ThatŠ l¼ Šaggression€had€left€20,000€people€dead€and€80,000€wounded.€€Š U„ ŠĢ336.€€A€quarter€of€the€Croatian€territory€was€still€under€Serbian€occupation.€€Almost€half€of€theŠ ' w ŠCroatian€economy€had€been€destroyed€and€many€churches,€cemeteries,€schools,€hospitals€andŠ !` Šhistorical€monuments€severely€damaged€or€completely€ruined.€€Additionally,€Croatia€had€becomeŠ ł!I  Šhost€to€some€300,000€displaced€persons€and€to€more€than€450,000€refugees€from€Bosnia€andŠ ā"2! ŠHerzegovina.€€Š Ė#" ŠĢ337.€€As€one€of€the€successor€States€to€the€former€Yugoslavia€in€1992,€Croatia€had€made€aŠ %ķ $ Šdeclaration€of€succession€to€the€Geneva€Conventions€of€1949€and€the€Covenant.€€It€also€intended€toŠ †&Ö!% Šmake€the€declaration€provided€for€in€article€41€of€the€Covenant€and€to€accede€to€the€OptionalŠ o'æ"& ŠProtocols€in€the€near€future.€€The€Covenants€had€been€taken€as€a€basis€for€the€human€rightsŠ X(Ø#' Šprovisions€contained€in€chapters€2€and€3€of€Croatia's€new€Constitution.€€The€Constitution€definedŠ A)‘$( Šthe€Republic€of€Croatia€as€a€national€State€of€the€Croatian€people€and€a€State€of€members€ofŠ **z%) Šminorities€who€were€its€citizens;€its€article€15€provided€that€members€of€all€national€minoritiesŠ +c&* Šenjoyed€equal€rights,€freedom€to€express€their€nationality€and€use€their€language€and€script,€andŠ ü+L'+ Šcultural€autonomy.€€Croatia€had€also€been€the€only€Republic€of€the€former€Yugoslavia€to€enact€andŠ å,5(, Šimplement€the€human€rights€provisions€adopted€by€The€Hague€Conference€on€the€FormerŠ Ī-)- ŠŌ_ŌYugoslavia.€€Accordingly,€it€had€adopted,€in€December€1991,€a€Constitutional€Law€on€HumanŠ ° ŠRights€and€Freedoms€and€the€Rights€of€Ethnic€and€National€Communities€or€Minorities€whichŠ ™é Šguaranteed€all€human€rights€and€fundamental€freedoms€to€members€of€minorities,€together€withŠ ‚Ņ Šadditional€rights€to€be€enjoyed€by€them€in€accordance€with€all€the€relevant€United€Nations€andŠ k» ŠEuropean€human€rights€instruments.€€Special€autonomous€status€had€been€granted€to€national€andŠ T¤ Šethnic€communities€in€those€districts€of€Croatia€where€their€members€represented€over€50€per€centŠ =  Šof€the€population.€€Other€legal€provisions€guaranteeing€national€minority€rights€had€also€beenŠ & v Šadopted,€in€particular€the€Law€on€Election€to€the€Croatian€Parliament€which€provided€that€a€nationalŠ  _ Šminority€comprising€more€than€8€per€cent€of€the€population€of€the€Republic€had€to€be€proportionallyŠ ų H Šrepresented€in€parliamentary,€governmental€and€judicial€bodies.€€Š į 1  ŠĢ338.€€There€had€been€no€organized€policy€of€ethnic€cleansing€in€the€Croatian€territory€under€theŠ ³  Šcontrol€of€the€Croatian€authorities,€who€had€always€been€decisively€and€uncompromisingly€opposedŠ œģ  Što€such€a€policy.€€Although€there€had€been€individual€cases€of€arbitrary€arrests€and€killings€duringŠ …Õ  Šthe€early€stages€of€spontaneous€self-Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€against€the€aggressor,€the€Croatian€authorities€hadŠ n¾  Šapplied€the€rule€of€law€throughout€the€territory€under€their€control€and€were€prosecuting€theŠ W§  Šperpetrators€of€such€criminal€acts.€€There€were€no€detention€camps€in€the€territory€controlled€by€theŠ @ ŠCroatian€authorities€and,€even€during€the€military€aggression,€the€treatment€of€prisoners€of€warŠ )y Šbelonging€to€the€so-called€Yugoslav€People's€Army€or€to€Serbian€paramilitary€groups€had€beenŠ b Šregulated€by€a€special€decree€providing€for€the€application€of€the€Geneva€Conventions€of€1949.€€TheŠ ūK Špolicy€of€ethnic€cleansing€was,€however,€still€being€pursued€and€practiced€against€Croatians€andŠ ä4 Šother€non-Serbian€populations€in€the€territory€not€controlled€by€the€Croatian€authorities.€€In€thatŠ Ķ Šterritory,€there€were€still€detention€camps€in€which€killings,€the€worst€methods€of€torture€and€otherŠ ¶ Šinhuman€treatment€were€practiced.€€Š Ÿļ ŠĢ339.€€The€Croatian€Government€was€a€strong€advocate€of€national€and€religious€tolerance€andŠ qĮ ŠŌ_ŌfavouredŌ_Ō€the€introduction€of€preventive€measures€to€forestall€acts€of€intolerance.€€It€had€establishedŠ ZŖ Šan€Office€for€Inter-Ethnic€Relations€and€there€was€also€a€parliamentary€Committee€for€HumanŠ C“ ŠRights,€including€minority€rights.€€Police€stations€in€each€district€had€been€instructed€to€take€theŠ ,| Šnecessary€precautions€to€prevent€possible€attacks€in€retaliation€for€the€killings,€bombings€and€otherŠ e Šcrimes€frequently€committed€by€people€of€Serbian€nationality€living€in€the€area.Š žN ŠĢ340.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€with€appreciation€that,€on€12€October€1992,€the€RepublicŠ Š!   Šof€Croatia€had€notified€the€Secretary-General€that€it€had€succeeded,€as€from€8€October€1991,€toŠ ¹" ! Švarious€human€rights€treaties,€including€the€Covenant.€€They€further€noted€that,€since€itsŠ ¢#ņ" Šindependence,€the€territory€of€Croatia€had€been€subjected€to€large-scale€military€action€which€hadŠ ‹$Ū# Šresulted€in€massive€violations€of€human€rights,€including€significant€loss€of€life,€torture,Š t%Ä $ Šdisappearances€and€summary€executions,€with€entire€towns€destroyed€and€populations€displaced.€Š ]&­!% ŠThey€emphasized,€however,€that€all€human€rights€instruments,€including€the€Geneva€Conventions,Š F'–"& Šlaid€obligations€on€parties,€without€exonerating€those€who€regarded€themselves€as€victims€ofŠ /(#' Šaggression€from€their€own€responsibilities€under€the€relevant€instruments.€€Although€human€rightsŠ )h$( Šviolations€might€well€be€reported€in€portions€of€the€country€that€was€not€under€Croatian€control,Š *Q%) ŠCroatia€was€none€the€less€accountable€for€what€happened€in€areas€that€it€did€control.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ341.€€With€regard€to€the€situation€of€ethnic€Serbs€in€Croatia,€members€requested€clarification€ofŠ ¼, (, Šreferences€in€the€report€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€RightsŠ „-õ(- Š(E/CN.4/1992/S-1/9)€to€maltreatment€of€ethnic€Serbs,€which€had€caused€the€flight€of€many€of€themŠ ° Šfrom€the€territory€of€Croatia,€and€to€cases€of€detention€of€civilians€on€the€sole€basis€of€their€ethnicŠ ™é Šorigin.€€Similarly,€clarification€was€sought€of€other€references€in€a€report€prepared€by€the€ConferenceŠ ‚Ņ Šon€Security€and€Cooperation€in€Europe€which€indicated€that€the€Serbian€population€had€been€theŠ k» Štarget€of€human€rights€violations,€including€destruction€of€houses,€attacks€on€shops€belonging€toŠ T¤ ŠSerbs,€and€dismissal€of€Serbs€from€government€service.€€It€was€asked€whether€such€measures€didŠ =  Šnot€in€themselves€constitute€a€form€of€ethnic€cleansing.€€Information€was€also€requested€on€measuresŠ & v Štaken€to€investigate€the€cases€of€Ō_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō€and€arbitrary€arrests€mentioned€in€the€report€submittedŠ  _ Šby€Croatia€and€to€punish€those€found€guilty.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€what€measures€had€beenŠ ų H Štaken€to€investigate€cases€of€disappearances,€extrajudicial€executions€or€torture,€to€punish€thoseŠ į 1  Šfound€guilty,€and€to€prevent€the€recurrence€of€such€acts,€including€any€acts€perpetrated€by€CroatianŠ Ź   Šforces€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina;€whether€steps€had€been€taken€to€ensure€that€prisoners€were€notŠ ³  Šbeing€taken€in€order€to€be€exchanged€for€other€prisoners;€what€measures€had€been€adopted€to€ensureŠ œģ  Šthe€proper€treatment€of€persons€deprived€of€their€liberty€and€to€prevent€conduct€by€certainŠ …Õ  Šindividuals€that€might€lead€to€forced€departures€or€to€preventing€the€return€of€any€section€of€theŠ n¾  Špopulation;€whether€there€were€detention€camps€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€under€the€jurisdictionŠ W§  Šof€members€of€the€Croatian€army;€and€what€groups€were€considered€as€minorities€under€the€recentlyŠ @ Šadopted€Constitutional€Law€on€Human€Rights€and€Freedoms€and€the€Rights€of€Ethnic€and€NationalŠ )y ŠCommunities€or€Minorities.€€Š b ŠĢ342.€€With€reference€to€the€implementation€of€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€clarification€was€requestedŠ ä4 Šof€the€published€lists€of€Croatian€citizens€of€Serbian€origin€indicating€their€ethnic€origin€which,Š Ķ Šaccording€to€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€were€widely€distributedŠ ¶ Šand€available€for€sale€to€the€public€(members€of€the€Committee€had€a€copy€of€the€list€furnished€byŠ Ÿļ Šthe€Special€Rapporteur).€€It€was€also€inquired€what€measures€had€been€foreseen€to€create€theŠ ˆŲ Špreventive€conditions€designed€to€forestall€any€cases€of€national,€racial,€religious€or€other€kinds€ofŠ qĮ Šhatred;€what€practical€measures€had€been€adopted€to€promote€tolerance€among€the€various€peoplesŠ ZŖ Šresiding€in€the€Republic;€what€steps€had€been€taken€against€members€of€the€Croatian€army€who€hadŠ C“ Šreportedly€been€seen€wearing€Nazi€emblems;€whether€there€were€any€educational€programmes,Š ,| Špolicy€campaigns€or€efforts€to€disseminate€information€that€would€promote€ethnic€tolerance;€andŠ e Šwhat€the€Office€for€Inter-Ethnic€Relations€might€do€to€promote€the€eradication€of€ethnic€criteria€inŠ žN Šthe€future.€€Š ē 7 ŠĢ343.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stated€that€in€October€1992,€his€GovernmentŠ ¹" ! Šhad€notified€the€Ō_ŌdepositariesŌ_Ō€of€many€international€treaties,€including€the€Covenant,€of€its€decisionŠ ¢#ņ" Što€consider€itself€a€successor€State€in€respect€of€the€ratification€of€the€former€Federal€Republic€ofŠ ‹$Ū# ŠYugoslavia.€€Under€article€134€of€the€Constitution,€international€agreements€concluded€and€ratifiedŠ t%Ä $ Šin€accordance€with€the€Constitution€were€part€of€Croatia's€internal€order€and€prevailed€over€nationalŠ ]&­!% Šlegislation.€€With€reference€to€the€statement€in€the€report€according€to€which€a€distinction€had€to€beŠ F'–"& Šdrawn€between€the€aggressor€and€the€victims,€the€representative€explained€that€all€violations€ofŠ /(#' Šhuman€rights€had€constituted€aggression€and€that,€during€the€war€in€Croatia,€part€of€the€SerbianŠ )h$( Šethnic€group€had€joined€the€aggressors€and€committed€violations.€€Š *Q%) ŠĢ344.€€Referring€to€questions€relating€to€ethnic€groups€and€minorities,€the€representative€explainedŠ Ó+#'+ Šthat€anyone€who€wished€to€be€considered€as€belonging€to€a€minority€had€the€right€to€do€so€andŠ ¼, (, Šenjoyed€all€the€rights€guaranteed€under€the€Constitution.€€There€was€no€wish€on€the€part€of€theŠ „-õ(- ŠGovernment€to€change€anything€in€respect€of€their€geographical€situation.€€Provisions€relating€toŠ ° Šminorities€had€been€included€in€the€Constitutional€Law€of€December€1991,€but€the€application€ofŠ ™é Šthose€rules€depended€on€a€decision€of€the€present€rulers€of€the€Serbian€minority€in€one€part€ofŠ ‚Ņ ŠCroatia€to€recognize€that€they€were€citizens€of€Croatia.€€Serbs€living€in€other€parts€of€Croatia€hadŠ k» Šrecently€received€new€schools,€and€a€Serbian€organization€called€the€Serbian€Community€had€beenŠ T¤ Šre-established€to€protect€the€national€rights€of€Serbs€in€Croatia.€€The€branches€of€the€Office€forŠ =  ŠInter-Ethnic€Relations€which€had€been€created€in€various€districts€of€the€country€had€established€aŠ & v Šcouncil€where€all€representatives€of€different€ethnic€groups€and€minorities€could€meet€to€presentŠ  _ Štheir€problems.€€The€branches€also€proposed€measures€for€monitoring€the€application€of€laws€andŠ ų H Šregulations€and€assisted€persons€whose€cases€had€not€been€dealt€with€properly€by€judicial€or€otherŠ į 1  Šorgans.€€Š Ź   ŠĢ345.€€With€reference€to€the€human€rights€violations€occurring€in€Croatia,€the€representative€explainedŠ œģ  Šthat€a€distinction€had€to€be€made€between€the€three€quarters€of€the€territory€controlled€by€theŠ …Õ  ŠCroatian€Government,€for€which€the€Government€was€responsible,€and€the€portion€that€was€occupiedŠ n¾  Šby€the€Serbs€and€under€the€protection€of€the€United€Nations€Protection€Force€(Ō_ŌUNPROFORŌ_Ō),€whereŠ W§  Šit€was€not€possible€to€control€human€rights€violations.€€The€activities€of€the€Ministry€of€the€InteriorŠ @ Šand€of€the€police€were€aimed€at€preventing€violence,€especially€of€an€ethnic€nature,€and€protectingŠ )y Špublic€and€private€buildings,€in€particular€Serbian-owned€homes,€against€possible€attacks.€€TheŠ b ŠCroatian€Government€could,€unfortunately,€do€nothing€about€violations€in€the€part€of€the€territoryŠ ūK Šout€of€its€control,€where€incidents€of€ethnic€cleansing,€expulsions,€arbitrary€arrests,€executions,Š ä4 Štorture,€and€racial€and€religious€hatred€continued€to€occur.€€Furthermore,€the€Croatian€GovernmentŠ Ķ Šcould€not€be€held€responsible€for€violations€in€other€independent€sovereign€States,€in€particularŠ ¶ ŠBosnia€and€Herzegovina.€€There€were€no€concentration€camps€in€Croatia€but,€due€to€the€war,€CroatiaŠ Ÿļ Šdid€have€three€prisoner-of-war€camps€in€its€territory€which€were€under€the€control€of€the€MinistryŠ ˆŲ Šof€Ō_ŌDefenceŌ_Ō.€€Rules€for€the€treatment€of€the€prisoners€had€been€laid€down€in€a€decree€of€the€PresidentŠ qĮ Šof€the€Republic€and€the€provisions€of€the€Geneva€Conventions€of€1949€were€being€applied.€€Š ZŖ ŠĢ346.€€In€the€framework€of€the€spontaneous€self-Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€actions€against€Serbian€and€Ō_ŌMontenegrinŌ_ŌŠ ,| Šaggression,€at€a€time€when€Croatia€had€been€weaponless€and€without€a€military€force,€there€had€beenŠ e Šsome€cases€where€the€inhabitants€of€Serbian€villages€had€been€taken€hostage.€€From€1€January€to€31Š žN ŠAugust€1992,€there€had€been€4,014€cases€of€destruction€of€homes€in€which€the€victims€had€beenŠ ē 7 ŠSerbs,€1,067€cases€involving€Croats€and€115€cases€involving€members€of€other€groups.€€Attacks€onŠ Š!   ŠSerbian-owned€shops,€as€reported€by€the€mission€of€the€Conference€on€Security€and€Cooperation€inŠ ¹" ! ŠEurope,€were€against€the€policy€of€the€Croatian€Government.€€One€such€incident€had€been€sparkedŠ ¢#ņ" Šoff€by€the€murder€of€a€local€policeman,€who€had€been€ambushed€by€Serbian€terrorists.€€The€CroatianŠ ‹$Ū# ŠGovernment€was€also€conducting€investigations€into€an€incident€in€which€members€of€the€CroatianŠ t%Ä $ ŠDemocratic€Union€had€allegedly€written€threatening€letters€to€Serbian€intellectuals,€but€it€appearedŠ ]&­!% Šthat€those€allegations€had€not€been€substantiated.€€The€list€of€acts€of€violence€against€Serbs€reflectedŠ F'–"& Šacts€by€individuals€and€not€an€official€policy€on€the€part€of€the€Government.€€It€could,€however,€notŠ /(#' Šbe€assumed€that€a€country€emerging€from€Communist€rule,€having€won€its€independence€throughŠ )h$( Šan€extremely€violent€armed€conflict,€would€rapidly€attain€the€highest€degree€of€respect€for€humanŠ *Q%) Šrights.€€Violations€of€human€rights€did€exist€in€Croatia,€but€the€Government€was€doing€everythingŠ ź*:&* Špossible€to€see€that€the€law€was€applied€to€punish€those€found€responsible.€€Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ347.€€With€regard€to€the€implementation€of€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€explainedŠ „-õ(- Šthat,€at€the€beginning€of€the€war€against€Croatia,€the€system€of€criminal€justice€had€operated€forŠ ° Šseveral€months€under€extremely€difficult€conditions.€€The€police€forces€had€been€the€only€ones€ableŠ ™é Što€offer€resistance€to€military€action€and,€as€a€result,€had€been€unable€to€perform€their€normalŠ ‚Ņ Šfunctions€until€1€January€1992.€€Some€21,951€criminal€offences€connected€with€the€war€or€armedŠ k» Šconflict€had€been€reported€between€August€1990€and€July€1992.€€Other€criminal€offences€classifiedŠ T¤ Šas€crimes€against€humanity€and€international€law€involved€1,880€persons.€€A€total€of€10,635€personsŠ =  Šhad€been€brought€before€ordinary€courts,€and€a€total€of€6,829€members€of€the€military€had€beenŠ & v Šbrought€before€military€courts.€€There€had€so€far€been€423€court€judgements,€91€per€cent€resultingŠ  _ Šin€convictions,€for€criminal€offences€in€connection€with€the€armed€conflict.€€Š ų H ŠĢ348.€€Referring€to€questions€raised€under€article€20€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ Ź   Šparty€said€that€the€extreme€right-wing€party€and€its€military€wing€had€been€condemned€by€theŠ ³  ŠCroatian€Government,€and€the€party€leaders€and€three€members€of€Parliament€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€theirŠ œģ  Šimmunity€removed€and€were€being€investigated.€€The€Public€Prosecutor's€Department€had€alsoŠ …Õ  Šrequested€the€opening€of€an€investigation€into€that€party's€activities,€possibly€leading€to€itsŠ n¾  Šdissolution.€€The€political€campaign€for€the€August€1992€elections€had€placed€strong€emphasis€onŠ W§  Šrespect€for€human€rights€and€especially€the€rights€of€minorities.€€The€Croatian€Parliament,Š @ Šfurthermore,€had€recently€adopted€a€law€on€the€discontinuance€of€criminal€proceedings€instituted€forŠ )y Šoffences€committed€during€the€armed€conflict.€€This€law,€which€does€not€apply€to€perpetrators€ofŠ b Šcriminal€acts,€is€one€of€the€measures€which€the€Croatian€Parliament€and€Government€have€taken€withŠ ūK Ša€view€to€the€reconciliation€of€the€peoples€of€different€nationalities€who€live€in€the€territory€of€theŠ ä4 ŠRepublic.€€Of€the€42€reported€crimes€of€incitement€to€national€or€religious€intolerance€or€hatredŠ Ķ Šunder€article€236€of€the€Penal€Code,€during€the€first€nine€months€of€1992,€42€had€led€to€the€openingŠ ¶ Šof€a€judicial€investigation.Š Ÿļ ŠĢņņConcluding€observations€by€individual€membersóó€Š qĮ ŠĢ349.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€the€State€party€for€replyingŠ C“ Šclearly€and€in€detail€to€the€questions€of€the€Committee.€€They€noted€a€number€of€encouraging€factorsŠ ,| Šwith€regard€to€the€guarantee€of€human€rights,€foremost€among€which€was€the€declaration€ofŠ e Šsuccession€to€the€various€international€human€rights€instruments.€€They€also€noted€that€theŠ žN Šobligations€deriving€from€those€instruments€were€incorporated€in€the€new€Constitutional€Law€onŠ ē 7 ŠHuman€Rights€and€Freedoms€and€the€Rights€of€Ethnic€and€National€Communities€or€MinoritiesŠ Š!   Šadopted€in€December€1991;€that€an€Office€for€Inter-Ethnic€Relations€had€been€opened;€that€personsŠ ¹" ! Šcharged€with€crimes€committed€during€the€conflict€had€been€brought€to€court;€that€the€threeŠ ¢#ņ" Šprisoner-of-war€camps€in€Croatia€were€open€to€the€International€Committee€of€the€Red€Cross;€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šthat€the€paramilitary€groups€and€the€extreme€right-wing€political€parties€and€their€members€wereŠ t%Ä $ Šbeing€investigated.€€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ350.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€indicated,€however,€their€deep€concern€about€the€preamble€toŠ /(#' Šthe€Constitution,€which€stated€that€the€Republic€of€Croatia€was€defined€as€the€national€State€of€theŠ )h$( ŠCroatian€nation€embracing€members€of€other€nations€and€minorities€who€were€its€citizens.€€They€alsoŠ *Q%) Šindicated€their€concern€about€the€discrimination€and€harassment€incurred€by€persons€of€SerbianŠ ź*:&* Šorigin€residing€in€Croatia,€particularly€in€respect€of€the€lists€of€individuals€classified€according€toŠ Ó+#'+ Štheir€ethnic€origin;€the€wearing€of€Fascist€emblems€in€public€by€certain€military€personnel;€theŠ ¼, (, Šdismissal€of€Serbs€in€the€press€agencies;€the€lack€of€energy€shown€by€the€authorities€ņņvis--visóó€theŠ „-õ(- Šrisks€of€an€extension€in€their€territory€of€the€ethnic€persecution€referred€to€in€the€report€of€the€SpecialŠ ° ŠRapporteur€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights;€cases€of€enforced€or€involuntary€disappearances;Š ™é Šthe€arbitrary€detention€of€many€people,€often€in€order€to€exchange€them€for€Croatian€prisoners;€theŠ ‚Ņ Šexistence€in€Croatia€of€unreported€places€of€detention;€and€the€deplorable€conditions€of€detentionŠ k» Šin€internment€camps€placed€under€the€control€of€the€Croatian€army€or€of€local€Croatian€militaryŠ T¤ Šgroups€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€in€respect€of€which€the€responsibility€of€the€CroatianŠ =  ŠGovernment€was€engaged.Š & v ŠĢ351.€€The€representative€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia€thanked€the€members€of€the€Committee€for€theirŠ ų H Šobservations,€questions€and€criticisms€and€stressed€that€the€dialogue€which€had€just€taken€placeŠ į 1  Šwould€help€to€strengthen€the€efforts€being€made€by€the€competent€authorities€of€his€country€toŠ Ź   Šguarantee€the€respect€and€exercise€of€the€civil€and€political€rights€established€by€the€Covenant.€€Š ³  ŠĢ352.€€In€conclusion,€the€Chairman€thanked€the€Croatian€delegation€for€its€extremely€helpful€answersŠ …Õ  Šand€comments€which€had€demonstrated€its€willingness€to€cooperate€with€the€Committee.€€HeŠ n¾  Šrecalled€that€the€responsibility€devolving€upon€States€parties€to€the€Covenant€encompassed€not€onlyŠ W§  Šthe€acts€committed€in€the€territory€of€the€actual€State,€but€also€those€acts€carried€out€by€its€agentsŠ @ Šbeyond€national€frontiers,€as€well€as€incitement€to€such€acts.€€He€also€expressed€the€hope€that€theŠ )y Šdeclaration€of€succession€to€the€Covenant€would€be€followed€by€accession€to€the€two€OptionalŠ b ŠProtocols€to€the€Covenant.€€Š ūK ŠĢņņComments€of€the€Committeeóó€Š Ķ ŠĢ353.€€At€its€1205th€meeting€(forty-sixth€session),€held€on€6€November€1992,€the€Committee€adoptedŠ Ÿļ Šthe€following€comments.€€Š ˆŲ ŠĢņņIntroductionóó€Š ZŖ ŠĢ354.€€Deeply€concerned€by€recent€and€current€events€in€the€territory€of€the€former€YugoslaviaŠ ,| Šaffecting€human€rights€protected€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights;Š e Šnoting€that€all€the€peoples€within€the€territory€of€the€former€Yugoslavia€are€entitled€to€the€guaranteesŠ žN Šof€the€Covenant;€and€acting€under€article€40,€paragraph€1€(b),€of€the€Covenant;€the€Committee,€onŠ ē 7 Š7€October€1992,€requested€the€Government€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia€to€submit€a€short€report€onŠ Š!   Šthe€following€issues€in€respect€of€persons€and€events€now€coming€under€its€jurisdiction:€€Š ¹" ! ŠĢ(a)€€Measures€taken€to€prevent€and€combat€the€policy€of€ethnic€cleansing€pursued,€according€toŠ ‹$Ū# Šseveral€reports,€in€the€territory€of€certain€parts€of€the€former€Yugoslavia,€in€relation€to€articles€6€andŠ t%Ä $ Š12€of€the€Covenant;€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ(b)€€Measures€taken€to€prevent€arbitrary€arrests€and€killings€of€persons€as€well€as€disappearances,Š /(#' Šin€relation€to€articles€6€and€9€of€the€Covenant;€Š )h$( ŠĢ(c)€€Measures€taken€to€prevent€arbitrary€executions,€torture€and€other€inhuman€treatment€in€detentionŠ ź*:&* Šcamps,€in€relation€to€articles€6,€7€and€10€of€the€Covenant;€Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ(d)€€Measures€taken€to€combat€advocacy€of€national,€racial€or€religious€hatred€constitutingŠ „-õ(- Šincitement€to€discrimination,€hostility€or€violence,€in€relation€to€article€20€of€the€Covenant.€€Š ° ŠĢ355.€€Pursuant€to€that€request,€Croatia€submitted€a€short€special€report€entitled€"Report€on€measuresŠ ‚Ņ Štaken€to€prevent€criminal€acts€perpetrated€in€violation€of€the€human€rights€and€freedoms€in€theŠ k» ŠRepublic€of€Croatia",€which€was€considered€by€the€Committee€at€its€1201st€and€1202nd€meetings,Š T¤ Šheld€on€4€November€1992.€€The€Republic€of€Croatia€was€represented€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌSmiljanŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSimacŌ_Ō,Š =  ŠAssistant€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairs€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia,€Head€of€Delegation;€Mr.€Ō_ŌBudislavŌ_ŌŠ & v ŠŌ_ŌVukasŌ_Ō,€Faculty€of€Law€Zagreb,€Member€of€Delegation;€Mr.€Ō_ŌDavorŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌKrapacŌ_Ō,€Faculty€of€Law,€Zagreb,Š  _ ŠMember€of€Delegation.€€The€report€was€supplemented€by€an€oral€introduction€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌSimacŌ_Ō,€and€byŠ ų H Šresponses€by€various€members€of€the€delegation€to€the€questions€and€observations€of€members€ofŠ į 1  Šthe€Committee.€€Š Ź   ŠĢ356.€€On€12€October€1992,€the€Republic€of€Croatia€notified€the€Secretary-General€of€the€UnitedŠ œģ  ŠNations€that€it€had€succeeded,€as€from€8€October€1991€(the€date€of€its€proclamation€ofŠ …Õ  Šindependence),€to€various€human€rights€treaties,€including€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andŠ n¾  ŠPolitical€Rights.Š W§  ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóó€Š )y ŠĢ357.€€Certain€factors€encouraging€to€the€guaranteeing€of€human€rights€were€noted.€€The€Republic€ofŠ ūK ŠCroatia€had€attained€statehood€after€democratic€parliamentary€elections€in€1990.€€The€newŠ ä4 ŠConstitutional€Law€of€Human€Rights€and€Freedoms€and€the€Rights€of€Ethnic€and€NationalŠ Ķ ŠCommunities€or€Minorities,€adopted€in€December€1991€and€amended€in€April€1992,€incorporatedŠ ¶ ŠUnited€Nations€treaty€obligations€on€human€rights.€€An€office€for€inter-ethnic€relations€had€beenŠ Ÿļ Šopened,€which€would€have€branches€in€various€districts€of€Croatia€and€a€wide-reaching€mandate.€Š ˆŲ ŠThe€Croatian€delegation€confirmed€that,€in€the€view€of€the€Government,€the€only€proper€use€ofŠ qĮ Šethnic€identity€was€to€ensure€that€ethnic€minorities€received€the€guarantees€to€which€they€are€entitledŠ ZŖ Šunder€article€27€of€the€Covenant.€€It€was€also€noted€that€certain€charges€had€been€brought€in€theŠ C“ Šcourts€against€persons€who€were€accused€of€crimes€against€civilians,€crimes€against€prisoners€of€warŠ ,| Šand€the€crime€of€genocide.€€The€three€prisoner-of-war€camps€in€Croatia€were€under€the€control€ofŠ e Šthe€Ministry€of€Ō_ŌDefenceŌ_Ō€and€open€to€the€International€Committee€of€the€Red€Cross.€€TheŠ žN ŠGovernment€had€condemned€the€policies€of€the€ultra€right€paramilitaries€and€political€parties€andŠ ē 7 Šwas€conducting€investigations€into€the€activities€of€certain€members€of€Parliament€belonging€to€theŠ Š!   ŠCroatian€Right€Party.€€Š ¹" ! ŠĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€application€of€the€Covenant€óóŠ ‹$Ū# ŠĢ358.€€Since€its€independence,€the€territory€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia€has€been€subjected€toŠ ]&­!% Šlarge-scale€military€action.€€This€had€resulted€in€massive€violations€of€human€rights,€includingŠ F'–"& Šsignificant€loss€of€life,€torture,€disappearances€and€summary€executions,€with€entire€towns€destroyedŠ /(#' Šand€populations€displaced.€€Because€of€the€conflict€in€Ō_ŌneighbouringŌ_Ō€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€CroatiaŠ )h$( Šhad€also€received€very€large€numbers€of€refugees.€€Š *Q%) ŠĢ359.€€The€representatives€also€informed€the€Committee€that€Croatia€controlled€only€about€threeŠ Ó+#'+ Šquarters€of€its€territory,€the€remainder€being€under€the€authority€of€Ō_ŌUNPROFORŌ_Ō.€€The€delegationŠ ¼, (, Šconceded€that€there€had€been€periods€during€the€hostilities€in€its€territory€when€public€order€hadŠ „-õ(- Šbroken€down€and€there€had€been€an€inability€to€control€ethnically-based€violence€against€Serbs.€€ItŠ ° Šaccepted€legal€responsibility€for€those€events.€€Š ™é ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóó€Š k» ŠĢ360.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€with€the€preamble€to€the€Constitution,€whereby€the€RepublicŠ =  Šof€Croatia€is€defined€as€"the€national€state€of€the€Croat€nation€and€a€state€of€members€of€otherŠ & v Šnations€and€minorities".€€Concern€was€expressed€about€long-standing€discrimination€against,€andŠ  _ Šharassment€of,€ethnic€Serbs€residing€within€Croatia.€€In€particular,€the€circulation€of€lists€of€personsŠ ų H Šgrouped€on€the€basis€of€their€ethnic€origin€was€to€be€deplored.€€Purges€had€been€permitted€of€theŠ į 1  Špublic€services€and€the€police€had€become€identified€with€ultra€right€nationalism.€€Members€of€theŠ Ź   Šmilitary€were€often€seen€in€public,€including€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€wearing€Fascist€emblems.€Š ³  ŠSerbs€had€been€removed€from€their€jobs€in€the€press€and€there€had€been€widespread€arrests€andŠ œģ  Šdisappearances.€€Persons€were€being€held€in€deplorable€€conditions€in€places€of€detention€in€BosniaŠ …Õ  Šand€Herzegovina,€which€were€under€the€control€of€the€Croatian€army€or€local€Croatian€militaryŠ n¾  Šfactions€who€received€the€backing€of€the€Republic€of€Croatia.€€The€international€responsibility€ofŠ W§  Šthe€Republic€of€Croatia€was€engaged€in€relation€to€these€events.€€Š @ ŠĢ361.€€The€Committee€believed€that€there€were€in€Croatia€Ō_ŌundesignatedŌ_Ō€places€of€detention€whereŠ b Špersons€were€held,€often€by€private€groups.€€Many€persons€for€whom€there€was€no€legitimate€causeŠ ūK Šof€detention€were€unlawfully€held.€€Sometimes€they€were€deprived€of€their€liberty€simply€in€orderŠ ä4 Što€be€able€to€effect€exchanges€for€Croatians€held€as€prisoners€elsewhere.€€Š Ķ ŠĢņņRecommendationsóó€Š Ÿļ ŠĢ362.€€The€Government€of€Croatia€is€urged€to€act€vigorously€against€all€manifestations€of€racialŠ qĮ Šhatred.€€Public€condemnation€should€be€made€of€the€circulation€of€lists€of€persons€based€on€ethnicityŠ ZŖ Šand€further€appropriate€action€should€be€taken.€€Strong€efforts€should€be€made€to€identify€undeclaredŠ C“ Šplaces€of€detention€and€to€ensure€that€only€bona€fide€prisoners€of€war€are€held€in€properly€notifiedŠ ,| Šcamps€operating€in€accordance€with€the€Geneva€Conventions€of€1949€and€the€Covenant.€Š e ŠResponsibility€must€be€accepted€for€the€acts€of€the€military€in€other€territories€as€well€as€in€Croatia.€Š žN ŠClear€instructions€should€be€issued€to€all€military€personnel€as€to€their€obligations€under€theŠ ē 7 ŠCovenant.€€The€foregoing€had€to€be€borne€in€mind€in€the€context€of€support€afforded,€directly€orŠ Š!   Šindirectly,€to€local€Croatian€militia€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€€Those€responsible€for€violations€ofŠ ¹" ! Šhuman€rights€should€be€brought€speedily€before€the€courts.€€In€that€regard,€the€existing€distinctionsŠ ¢#ņ" Šbetween€military€and€civil€jurisdictions€should€be€reviewed€so€that€military€personnel€might€be€triedŠ ‹$Ū# Šand,€if€found€guilty,€punished€under€normal€civil€jurisdiction.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢŌ_Ōņ ņŌ‡ X!^XXX!^ŌĢĢĢĢĢĢĢŠ ¬-ü(- ŠŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/56/40€Ō_Ō(2001)ó óŌ_Ō€Š ° ŠĢŻ‚ ’’’ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŌ€ X!^XX X!^Ōņ ņŌ  ŌŻ  ŻŌ& Õ ŌŻ‚ ’’’OŒŻŻ  Żó ó80.ņ ņ€€ņņó óCroatiaņ ņóóŻƒ ’’OŒ·ŒŻŌ ns“ŒŌŒŠ …Õ ŠŒŌUS.,UK.,ŌŌ€ X!^XX X!^Ōó óŻ  ŻŌ'Õ…«ŒŌĢ(1)€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€submitted€by€the€Republic€of€CroatiaŠ ZŖ Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/Ō_ŌHRVŌ_Ō/99/1)€at€its€1912th,€1913th,€1914th€and€1915th€meetings,€held€on28and29MarchŠ C “ Š2001,€and€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations€at€its€1923rdmeeting,€held€on€4€AprilŠ , | Š2001ņņ.óóŠ  e ŠĢŌ& Ņ ŌņņIntroductionóóŠ ē 7  ŠŌ'Ņē ;ŌĢ(2)€€The€Committee€has€examined€the€detailed€and€comprehensive€report€of€Croatia,€covering€eventsŠ ¹  Šsince€the€country€gained€its€independence€in€1991ņņ.€€óóThe€Committee€is€grateful€to€the€delegation€ofŠ ¢ņ  ŠCroatia€for€the€updated€information€provided€to€it€in€regard€to€recent€developments€subsequent€toŠ ‹Ū  Šthe€submission€of€the€reportņņ.€€óóIt€further€commends€the€delegation€for€supplying€it€with€a€great€dealŠ tÄ  Šof€information€about€the€legal€situation€in€Croatia,€but€regrets€that€it€was€not€provided€with€moreŠ ]­  Šinformation€with€regard€to€the€practical€implementation€of€Covenant€rights.Š F– ŠĢŌ& Ņ ŌņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ h ŠŌ'ŅC’ŌĢ(3)€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€serious€attempt€it€has€made€to€adopt€a€newŠ ź: Šrights-based€Constitution€that€embodies€internationally-recognized€human€rights€and€to€enact€aŠ Ó# Švariety€of€legislation€to€enhance€protection€of€such€rightsņņ.€€óóIt€notes€with€satisfaction€that€the€lastŠ ¼  Šparliamentary€and€presidential€elections€were€conducted€in€a€manner€consistent€with€article€25€ofŠ „õ Šthe€Covenantņņ.€€óóAdditionally,€since€these€elections,€significant€amendments€have€been€introduced€inŠ ŽŽ Šthe€Constitution€and€legislation€so€as€to€clarify€the€separation€of€powers€between€the€three€branchesŠ wĒ Šof€the€State,€in€particular€moving€from€an€over-concentration€of€power€in€the€executive€branch€toŠ `° Ša€more€balanced€form€of€parliamentary€oversight€of€the€executive€and€strengthening€of€theŠ I™ Šindependence€of€the€judiciary.Š 2‚ ŠĢ(4)€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€State€partyššs€renewed€commitment€to€cooperate€withŠ  T Šthe€International€Criminal€Tribunal€for€the€Former€Yugoslavia€in€order€to€ensure€that€all€personsŠ ķ = Šsuspected€of€grave€human€rights€violations€during€the€1991-1995€armed€conflict€are€brought€to€trial.Š Ö!&  ŠĢ(5)€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€series€of€proposed€amendments€to€its€lawsŠ Ø#ų" Šconcerning€selection€and€discipline€of€judges,€the€amendment€of€article€14€of€the€Constitution€so€asŠ ‘$į# Što€ensure€equality€of€all€persons,€the€enactment€of€the€Public€Assembly€Act€significantlyŠ z%Ź $ Šstrengthening€protection€of€the€right€to€freedom€of€assembly,€and€the€series€of€judicial€decisionsŠ c&³!% Šupholding€constitutional€rights,€many€of€which€are€rights€protected€by€the€Covenantņņ.€€óóIn€particular,Š L'œ"& Šit€welcomes€judgements€holding€inadmissible€evidence€obtained€from€suspects€without€the€presenceŠ 5(…#' Šof€a€lawyer€and€striking€down€as€unconstitutional€criminal€sanctions€for€criticism€of€high€officials.Š )n$( ŠĢ(6)€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€constitutional€provision€abrogating€the€death€penalty€andŠ š*@&* Šcommends€the€State€party€for€its€accession€to€the€Second€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.Š Ł+)'+ Šā āŠ Ā,(, ŠŌ& Ņ Ōā āņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ ° ŠŌ'Ņ°œŌĢ(7)€€The€Committee€appreciates€that€under€the€Croatian€Constitution€international€treaties,€includingŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€Covenant,€have€legal€force€superior€to€that€of€domestic€legislation,€and€that€most€Covenant€rightsŠ k» Šhave€also€been€specifically€incorporated€in€the€Constitutionņņ.€€óóHowever,€the€judiciary€is€not€generallyŠ T¤ Štrained€in€international€human€rights€law,€with€the€result€that€in€practice€there€is€very€little€directŠ =  Šenforcement€of€Covenant€rights.Š & v ŠĢThe€State€party€should€intensify€its€efforts€to€educate€judges€and€lawyers€about€the€Covenant€andŠ ų H Šits€implications€for€interpretation€of€the€Constitution€and€domestic€legislation€so€as€to€ensure€thatŠ į 1  ŠŌ_Ōall€actions€of€the€State€party,€whether€legislative,€executive€or€judicial,€will€be€in€accordance€withŠ Ź   Šits€obligations€under€the€Covenantņņ.€óóŠ ³  ŠĢ(8)€€While€welcoming€the€amendment€to€article€14€of€the€Constitution€that€extended€equality€toŠ …Õ  Šnon-citizens,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€that€other€provisions€continue€to€restrict€certainŠ n¾  Šrights€to€š šcitizensšš,€leaving€uncertain€whether€such€rights€are€guaranteed€to€all€individuals€in€theŠ W§  Šterritory€of€the€State€party€and€subject€to€its€jurisdiction,€as€required€under€article€2,€paragraph€1,€ofŠ @ Šthe€Covenant.Š )y ŠĢThe€State€party€should€adopt€necessary€measures€to€clarify€this€situation.Š ūK ŠĢ(9)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€article€17€of€the€Constitution,€dealing€with€a€state€ofŠ Ķ Šemergency,€is€not€entirely€compatible€with€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€in€that€theŠ ¶ Šconstitutional€grounds€justifying€a€derogation€are€broader€than€the€š šthreat€to€the€life€of€the€nationššŠ Ÿļ Šmentioned€in€article€4;€that€measures€of€derogation€are€not€restricted€to€those€strictly€required€by€theŠ ˆŲ Šexigencies€of€the€situation;€and€that€non-derogable€rights€do€not€include€the€rights€under€article€8,Š qĮ Šparagraphs€1€and€2,€article€11€and€article€16€of€the€Covenantņņ.€€óóFurthermore,€the€Committee€isŠ ZŖ Šconcerned€that€article€101€of€the€Constitution,€which€allows€the€President€to€issue€decrees€in€š štheŠ C“ Ševent€of€a€state€of€war€or€an€immediate€threat€to€the€independence€and€unity€of€the€Statešš,€has€beenŠ ,| Šemployed€so€as€to€derogate€de€factoņņ€óófrom€Covenant€rights€in€a€manner€that€would€seem€toŠ e Šcircumvent€the€restrictions€in€article€17€of€the€Constitution.Š žN ŠĢThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€its€constitutional€provisions€on€a€state€of€emergency€areŠ Š!   Šcompatible€with€article€4€of€the€Covenant€and€that€in€practice€no€derogation€from€rights€should€beŠ ¹" ! Špermissible€unless€the€conditions€of€article€4€have€been€met.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ(10)€€While€welcoming€the€establishment€of€specialized€departments€for€the€investigation€of€warŠ t%Ä $ Šcrimes€in€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior,€the€Committee€remains€deeply€concerned€that€many€casesŠ ]&­!% Šinvolving€violations€of€articles€6€and€7€of€the€Covenant€committed€during€the€armed€conflict,Š F'–"& Šincluding€the€š šStormšš€and€š šFlashšš€operations,€have€not€yet€been€adequately€investigated,€and€thatŠ /(#' Šonly€a€small€number€of€the€persons€suspected€of€involvement€in€those€violations€have€been€broughtŠ )h$( Što€trial.€€Although€the€Committee€appreciates€the€declared€policy€of€the€present€Government€ofŠ *Q%) Šcarrying€out€investigations,€irrespective€of€the€ethnic€identity€of€those€suspected,€it€regrets€that€it€wasŠ ź*:&* Šnot€provided€with€detailed€information€on€the€number€of€prosecutions€brought,€the€nature€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šcharges€and€the€outcome€of€the€trials.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- ŠThe€State€party€is€under€an€obligation€to€investigate€fully€all€cases€of€alleged€violations€of€articles6Š ° Šand€7€and€to€bring€to€trial€all€persons€who€are€suspected€of€involvement€in€such€violations.€€TowardsŠ ™é Šthis€end,€the€State€party€should€proceed,€as€a€matter€of€urgency,€with€the€enactment€of€the€draft€lawŠ ‚Ņ Šon€the€establishment€of€specialized€trial€chambers€within€the€major€county€courts,€specializedŠ k» Šinvestigative€departments,€and€a€separate€department€within€the€Office€of€the€Public€Prosecutor€forŠ T¤ Šdealing€specifically€with€the€prosecution€of€war€crimes.€Š =  ŠĢ(11)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€with€the€implications€of€the€Amnesty€Law.€€While€that€lawŠ  _ Šspecifically€states€that€the€amnesty€does€not€apply€to€war€crimes,€the€term€š šwar€crimesšš€is€notŠ ų H Šdefined€and€there€is€a€danger€that€the€law€will€be€applied€so€as€to€grant€impunity€to€persons€accusedŠ į 1  Šof€serious€human€rights€violations.€€The€Committee€regrets€that€it€was€not€provided€with€informationŠ Ź   Šon€the€cases€in€which€the€Amnesty€Law€has€been€interpreted€and€applied€by€the€courts.Š ³  ŠĢThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€in€practice€the€Amnesty€Law€is€not€applied€or€utilized€for€grantingŠ …Õ  Šimpunity€to€persons€accused€of€serious€human€rights€violations.Š n¾  ŠĢ(12)€€The€Committee€notes€the€delegationššs€statement€that€the€State€party€has€a€variety€of€measuresŠ @ Šat€its€disposal€in€its€criminal€law€to€combat€the€practice€of€trafficking€of€women€into€and€throughŠ )y Šits€territory,€particularly€for€purposes€of€sexual€exploitation.€€Despite€widespread€reports€of€theŠ b Šextent€and€seriousness€of€the€practice,€however,€the€Committee€regrets€that€it€was€not€provided€withŠ ūK Šinformation€on€actual€steps€taken€to€prosecute€the€persons€involved.€€Š ä4 ŠĢThe€State€party€should€take€appropriate€steps€to€combat€this€practice,€which€constitutes€a€violationŠ ¶ Šof€several€Covenant€rights,€including€the€right€under€article€8€to€be€free€from€slavery€and€servitude.€Š Ÿļ ŠĢĢ(13)€€The€Committee€regrets€that€it€was€not€provided€with€information€regarding€the€number€ofŠ ZŖ Špersons€held€in€pre-trial€detention€and€the€length€of€the€periods€for€which€they€are€held.€€It€isŠ C“ Štherefore€not€in€a€position€to€assess€whether€the€practice€in€the€State€party€is€in€conformity€withŠ ,| Šarticle9€of€the€Covenant.€€Š e ŠĢ(14)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€reports€about€abuse€of€prisoners€by€fellow€prisoners€and€regretsŠ ē 7 Šthat€it€was€not€provided€with€information€by€the€State€party€on€these€reports€and€on€the€steps€takenŠ Š!   Šby€the€State€party€to€ensure€full€compliance€with€article€10€of€the€Covenant.Š ¹" ! ŠĢThe€State€party€should€take€steps€to€ensure€compliance€with€the€requirements€of€article10.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ(15)€€While€noting€recent€efforts€to€simplify€procedures€and€remove€obstacles€in€the€way€of€thoseŠ ]&­!% Šwishing€to€return€to€Croatia,€in€particular€displaced€persons€of€Serbian€ethnicity,€the€CommitteeŠ F'–"& Šremains€concerned€at€the€number€of€cases€which€are€still€outstanding€and€at€the€length€of€time€theseŠ /(#' Špersons€are€having€to€wait€for€resolution€of€their€cases.€€Š )h$( ŠĢThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€no€difficulties€are€put€in€the€way€of€persons€who€left€Croatia€asŠ ź*:&* Ša€result€of€the€armed€conflict,€in€exercising€their€right,€under€article12,€paragraph4,€of€the€CovenantŠ Ó+#'+ Što€return€to€their€own€country.€€The€deployment€of€sufficient€resources€towards€providing€thoseŠ ¼, (, Špersons,€who€have€a€right€under€the€Covenant€to€return€to€Croatia,€with€accommodation€must€be€aŠ „-õ(- Špriority€with€the€State€party€as€it€is€essential€to€render€enjoyment€of€this€right€meaningful.€€Š ° ŠĢ(16)€€The€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€by€the€heavy€backlog€of€cases€awaiting€hearing€before€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠCroatian€courts,€particularly€in€civil€matters.€€The€delays€in€the€administration€of€justice€areŠ k» Šapparently€compounded€by€the€application€of€the€statute€of€limitations€to€suspend€or€discontinueŠ T¤ Šcases€that,€for€reasons€often€not€attributable€to€the€litigant€in€question,€have€not€been€brought€on€forŠ =  Šhearing.€€Š & v ŠĢWhile€acknowledging€the€State€partyššs€admission€that€the€administration€of€justice€is€in€urgent€needŠ ų H Šof€redress,€the€Committee€stresses€that€the€State€party€should€ensure€compliance€with€all€theŠ į 1  Šrequirements€of€article€14€of€the€Covenant.€€To€this€end,€it€urges€the€State€party€to€accelerate€itsŠ Ź   Šreform€of€the€judicial€system,€ņņinter€aliaóó€through€simplification€of€procedures,€training€of€judges€andŠ ³  Šcourt€staff€in€efficient€case€management€techniques.€Š œģ  ŠĢ(17)€€While€the€right€to€freedom€of€expression€is€constitutionally€guaranteed,€the€variety€ofŠ n¾  Šprovisions€in€the€Criminal€Code€dealing€with€offences€against€honour€and€reputation,€covering€areasŠ W§  Šof€defamation,€slander,€insult€and€so€forth,€are€uncertain€in€their€scope,€particularly€with€respect€toŠ @ Šspeech€and€expression€directed€against€the€authorities.€€The€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€havingŠ )y Šregard€to€past€experience€where€these€provisions€have€been€used€to€seek€to€stifle€political€discourse,Š b Ša€general€review€of€this€area€of€the€State€partyššs€law€is€necessary.Š ūK ŠĢThe€State€party€should€work€towards€developing€a€comprehensive€and€balanced€code€in€this€area.€Š Ķ ŠThis€law€should€set€out€clearly€and€precisely€the€restrictions€on€the€freedom€of€speech€andŠ ¶ Šexpression€and€ensure€that€such€restrictions€do€not€exceed€those€permissible€under€article19,Š Ÿļ Šparagraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.€€Š ˆŲ ŠĢ(18)€€The€Committee€acknowledges€the€delegationššs€concession€that€its€law€on€association,€whichŠ ZŖ Šwas€prepared€at€the€time€the€State€party€was€engaged€in€armed€conflict,€fails€to€provide€for€fullŠ C“ Šfreedom€of€association€as€guaranteed€under€article€22€of€the€Covenant.€€In€the€light€of€theŠ ,| ŠConstitutional€Courtššs€judgement€holding€unconstitutional€a€variety€of€provisions€in€the€Act,€theŠ e ŠCommittee€considers€the€time€particularly€appropriate€to€adopt€a€new€comprehensive€code€providingŠ žN Što€persons€within€the€State€partyššs€jurisdiction€full€and€comprehensive€rights€to€freedom€ofŠ ē 7 Šassociation.€Š Š!   ŠĢThe€Committee€understands€that€the€process€of€developing€a€new€law€on€association€is€under€way.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠThe€State€party€should€proceed,€as€a€matter€of€priority,€with€the€enactment€of€the€draft€law€to€giveŠ ‹$Ū# Šfull€effect€to€its€obligations€under€article€22€of€the€Covenant.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ(19)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€a€comprehensive€law€prohibiting€discrimination€inŠ F'–"& Šprivate-sector€areas€such€as€employment€and€housing.€€Pursuant€to€article2,€paragraph3,€and€articleŠ /(#' Š26€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€has€a€duty€to€protect€persons€against€such€discrimination.Š )h$( ŠĢThe€State€party€should€promulgate€a€law€prohibiting€all€discrimination€and€providing€effectiveŠ ź*:&* Šrecourse€for€all€persons€against€violations€of€their€right€to€non-discrimination.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ(20)€€The€Committee€remains€concerned€about€discrimination€faced€by€members€of€the€Serb€ethnicŠ „-õ(- Šminority€in€Croatia€and€requests€the€State€party€to€provide€it€with€information€as€to€their€positionŠ ° Šand€on€measures€taken€to€prevent€discrimination€against€them.Š ™é ŠĢ(21)€€While€recognizing€that€there€has€been€some€progress€in€achieving€equality€for€women€inŠ k» Špolitical€and€public€life,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€that€the€representation€of€women€inŠ T¤ ŠParliament€and€in€senior€official€positions,€including€the€judiciary,€still€remains€low.€€The€CommitteeŠ =  Šregrets€that€the€delegation€was€not€in€a€position€to€provide€the€Committee€with€information€relatingŠ & v Što€the€representation€of€women€in€the€private€sector.Š  _ ŠĢThe€State€party€should€make€every€effort€to€improve€the€representation€of€women€in€the€public€andŠ į 1  Šprivate€sectors,€if€necessary€through€appropriate€positive€measures,€in€order€to€give€effect€to€itsŠ Ź   Šobligations€under€articles€3€and€26.Š ³  ŠĢ(22)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€rights€of€members€of€ethnic,€religious€and€linguisticŠ …Õ  Šminorities€in€national,€regional€and€local€representative€and€executive€bodies,€as€well€as€their€rightsŠ n¾  Šin€social,€cultural€and€economic€fields€of€public€and€private€life,€should€be€more€fully€secured€andŠ W§  Šarticulated€in€the€State€partyššs€legal€framework,€as€the€starting€point€to€enhance€the€practicalŠ @ Šenjoyment€by€members€of€minorities€of€their€rights€under€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€is€alsoŠ )y Šconcerned€that€the€Roma€community€is€not€accorded€recognized€minority€status€and€that€membersŠ b Šof€this€community€are€particularly€disadvantaged€and€suffer€from€discrimination.€€Š ūK ŠĢThe€State€party€should€ensure€that€all€members€of€ethnic,€religious€and€linguistic€minorities€enjoyŠ Ķ Šeffective€protection€against€discrimination€and€are€able€to€enjoy€their€own€culture€and€use€their€ownŠ ¶ Šlanguage,€in€accordance€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ(23)€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€apparently€low€level€of€awareness€amongst€the€public€ofŠ qĮ Šthe€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€procedure.Š ZŖ ŠĢThe€State€party€should€publicize€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€the€availability€of€the€individualŠ ,| Šcomplaint€mechanism€provided€in€the€Optional€Protocol.€€It€should€consider€the€means€by€which€itŠ e Šcan€give€effect€to€the€Views€of€the€Committee€in€the€cases€coming€before€it.Š žN ŠĢ(24)€€The€State€party€should€widely€publicize€the€text€of€its€initial€report,€the€written€answers€it€hasŠ Š!   Šprovided€in€responding€to€the€list€of€issues€drawn€up€by€the€Committee€and,€in€particular,€theseŠ ¹" ! Šconcluding€observations.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ(25)€€The€State€party€is€asked,€pursuant€to€rule€70,€paragraph€5,€of€the€Committeeššs€rules€ofŠ t%Ä $ Šprocedure,€to€forward€information€within€12€months€on€the€implementation€of€the€CommitteeššsŠ ]&­!% Šrecommendations€regarding€the€investigation€and€prosecution€of€persons€responsible€for€graveŠ F'–"& Šhuman€rights€abuses€during€the€period€of€armed€conflict€(para.€(10)),€the€application€of€the€AmnestyŠ /(#' ŠLaw€to€persons€accused€of€such€violations€(para.€(11)),€the€expedition€of€the€return€of€displacedŠ )h$( Špersons€to€Croatia€(para.€(15)),€the€severe€delays€in€the€administration€of€justice€(para.(16)),€theŠ *Q%) Šdiscrimination€faced€by€minorities,€in€particular€the€Serb€ethnic€minority€(paras.(20)€and€(22)).€€TheŠ ź*:&* ŠCommittee€requests€that€information€concerning€the€remainder€of€its€recommendations€be€includedŠ Ó+#'+ Šin€the€second€periodic€report€to€be€presented€by€1ņņ€óóApril€2005.Š ¼, (, ŠŌ#†X!^XX X!^§‹#ŌŌ_Ō