A/HRC/30/14
88.
Timor-Leste commended the adoption of several laws, including the Law on
Protection of Persons with Mental Disorders, welcomed the entry into force of the Act on
the Ombudsman and noted with appreciation the achievements made to combat sexual
exploitation and abuse. Timor-Leste remained concerned about the lack of adequate support
systems for victims, particularly the limited access to prevention programmes for children.
89.
In concluding remarks, the head of the Croatian delegation touched upon a number
of issues raised by the delegates. Four conventions (the International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, the Optional
Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic
Violence) were at different stages of ratification. Concerning the International Convention
on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,
Croatia, as a State member of the European Union, adhered to the common policy on
migration and would, therefore, continue functioning within that framework. Moreoaver,
Croatia had provided a ship as part of European efforts to save refugees in the
Mediterranean.
90.
On the issue of trafficking in human beings, the important challenges of such
trafficking were addressed. Education and training efforts such as seminars on recognizing
cases of human trafficking and awareness-raising programmes were taking place. Since
Croatia had been identified as a country of both origin and destination, especially during the
tourist season, emphasis had been placed on training police officers, border guards and
communities.
91.
Concerning the issue of children in prisons, delegates were informed that there were
currently 65 children in different forms of detention, correctional institutions or juvenile
prisons. Pretrial detention was being reduced to the shortest possible period and took place
in secured educational facilities where continual psychological, social and health care was
being provided.
92.
On the overcrowding of prisons, an issue from 2010, delegates were informed that,
by introducing probation for minor offences and community work instead of prison
sentences, Croatian prisons now held a population (3,800 prisoners) that was slightly below
capacity (3,900 prisoners).
93.
Concerning language and, specifically, the use of Cyrillic script for the Serb
minority, Croatian law prescribed that when 30 per cent or more of a community was
composed of a minority, that group had the right to use its language and script. The
Government had implemented that law not only in areas where the situation was not very
controversial but also where it was controversial, as in Vukovar, which had been
completely destroyed during the war and still nursed very deep wounds. The Government
was fighting opposition to the law in that town and had called for cross-border cooperation,
especially with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on raising awareness of the importance
of minority languages in those sensitive areas.
94.
On pensions for returnees, it was clarified that returnees had pensions. The
unresolved issue concerned the pensions of those who had not returned and who remained
outside Croatia; the issue was under review and a solution was being sought, also with the
Government of Serbia.
95.
On the issue of missing persons, there were still 1,590 such persons, of whom 930
were ethnic Croats and 660 ethnic Serbs; almost all of them were from Croatia. Serbia and
Croatia, including the heads of the respective delegations personally, were working together
on the issue.
13
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