A/HRC/30/14 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-second session from 4 to 15 May 2015. The review of Croatia was held at the 13th meeting, on 12 May 2015. The delegation of Croatia was headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Vesna Pusić. At its 17th meeting, held on 15 May 2015, the Working Group adopted the report on Croatia. 2. On 13 January 2015, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Croatia: Bangladesh, Brazil and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Croatia: (a) A national report (A/HRC/WG.6/22/HRV/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (A/HRC/WG.6/22/HRV/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR (A/HRC/WG.6/22/HRV/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Croatia through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of delegation, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, said she was proud of the progress made by Croatia in the human rights area and was conscious that making progress was a continuous task. She pointed out that the level of protection and the scope of definition of human rights was a basic test for any State of its efficiency and functionality, highlighting especially minority rights, which could be seen as reflecting the overall status of human rights in a country. Emphasis was placed on the need for constant interaction between the State and civil society. The legislative and institutional framework for the protection of human rights in Croatia was based on the National Programme for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights 2013–2016. Croatia had four ombudswomen, one for human rights, one for women’s rights, one for the rights of children and one for the rights of persons with disabilities. 6. The Minister highlighted, among other the issues, free legal aid, the rights of persons with disabilities, social rights, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, national minorities, anti-discrimination, ethnic discrimination (specifically against vulnerable groups), hate crime, war crimes, the issue of missing persons, displaced persons and human trafficking. 7. Concerning free legal aid, the new Free Legal Aid Act has two segments, one on primary legal aid in the form of advice, which can be provided to everybody regardless of income, and the other on secondary legal aid, which is provided in cases before the court, depending on the material status and assets of the citizen. Secondary legal aid can only be 3