A/HRC/30/14 provided by lawyers. Aid for victims of domestic violence is universally accessible without an “income census” (information on income). 8. On the issue of the efficiency of the judiciary, the backlog of cases had decreased from 1.6 million cases in 2004 to 579,032 cases as of May 2015. Although more effort was needed, it was highlighted that the improvement was due, in particular, to specialized courts. The reform of the courts and the public attorney’s system, the reduced number of courts and public attorney offices, the introduction of information technology, including the assignment of cases and a simpler misdemeanour procedure had also contributed to the increased efficiency. 9. Croatia was still dealing with the consequences and the human rights challenges of the war, even though the war had ended in 1995, just as every society had to deal with the consequences and the brutalization that happen during war. Croatia had four specialized courts, in its four biggest cities, with jurisdiction over war crimes. With regard to the previous practice of sentencing people in absentia, all of those cases were being reviewed and individuals who had been sentenced in absentia could request that their specific case be reviewed. There were 16 cases before the European Court of Human Rights regarding war crimes. In 3 of those cases, the Court had ruled in favour of the plaintiff, stating that the procedures had indeed not been conducted as they should have; in another 3 cases, the Court had reconfirmed the procedure and verdict by the Croatian court; and 10 cases had been dismissed by the Court. That data reflect positively on the functioning, efficiency and procedural correctness of the Croatian specialized courts. With regard to the prosecution for war crimes, from 1992 to the end of 2014 proceedings were initiated against 3,553 persons, of whom 589 were convicted and 220 were undergoing additional investigations. 10. With regard to the issue of sexual violence during the war, a new bill would recognize the rights of rape victims during the war, including the right to compensation. 11. The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were extremely important and significant progress had been made since the first gay pride parade was held in Zagreb 12 years previously, in a precarious atmosphere. Pride parades had become a celebration of freedom rather than a struggle. In Split, the Government reacted to the violence that had occurred during the first gay pride parade by having five government ministers and the mayor of Split march in the following year’s parade. Not only through legislation but also by leading by example, the State showed that it had a role to play in defending human rights. The law on registered partnerships allowed lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex partners to have all the same rights as married couples except the right to adopt children. 12. In Croatia, over 20 national minorities were recognized by the Constitution. The status of Serbs and Roma was underlined. Information was shared on the constitutional provisions for the protection of human rights of national minorities, including the eight seats reserved in the parliament for ethnic minorities, which had great influence, since they could make or break a government. Roma were seen as actively making an important contribution to society. Among the achievements was the fact that Romany was being taught at Zagreb University and that a Romany-Croatian dictionary had been published. The land where Roma settlements were built has been legally registered and over 1,500 illegally built Roma houses had been legalized. Funds had been provided by the State. The Roma had also started the Roma National Council. Moreover, plans had been announced to build new schools in two communities with a high Roma population, ensuring better conditions and facilitating integration. 13. Minorities represented 3.5 per cent of State employees, a figure that would have to improve. 4