Author
Although in 2025 a further decrease in the number of complaints on pushbacks to the Ombudsperson was recorded, pushback practices persisted throughout 2025, as reported by some civil society organisations.
The 2025 European Annual Asylum and Migration Report (2025 Report) highlighted that, while irregular crossings on the Western Balkan route have generally decreased, the corridor through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia remained the most active. However, there were fewer irregular border crossings than in the period from July 2023 to June 2024.[1] Croatia accounted for 76% of all arrivals, i.e., over 12,000 irregular crossings. Relative to its GDP and population, this represents the second-highest number of irregular crossings in the EU. Between July 2024 and June 2025, more than 110,000 persons were denied entry at the EU’s external borders, primarily at land (55%) and air (41%) borders. Croatia, alongside Poland, France, and Romania, recorded the highest figures in absolute terms, while Croatia, Latvia, and Estonia saw the highest number of refusals relative to their GDP and population.
According to the MoI, there were 16,409 irregular border crossings into Croatia in 2025, thus marking a decrease of 44% compared to 2024, when 29,294 irregular border crossing cases were recorded. The main countries of origin of persons apprehended while irregularly crossing the border were Türkiye (4,735), Afghanistan (1,753), Egypt (1,572), Syria (1,311), and China (1,002). In terms of detection location, the majority of irregular crossings occurred at border crossings, totalling 15,491 cases. This was followed by 648 detections in the vicinity of the border, 228 detections within the interior of the territory, and 42 individuals accepted from the police of another state.[2]
According to the Annual 2025 Police Report, upon apprehension, approximately 91% of migrants expressed an intention to apply for international protection. The police stated that this constitutes an abuse of the asylum system, as migrants utilized the system solely to avoid readmission and to continue their journey toward the western countries of the Schengen area. The most common methods of irregular border crossings across different counties included traveling on foot across the land border and evading border control by hiding in freight vehicles and trains (Vukovar-Srijem County), traveling on foot with the aid of navigation applications (Karlovac and Sisak-Moslavina Counties), and crossing the Sava River by boat (Brod-Posavina County).[3]
Illegal border practices, pushbacks and ill-treatment
During 2025, a total of 4,723 foreign nationals were forcibly returned from Croatia, 2,516 of whom based on readmission agreements.[4]
Pushback practices reported by national and European NGOs and other actors
Pushback practices persisted throughout 2025, as reported by organisations such as the No Name Kitchen, Save the Children, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN),[5] and the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS).
The Ombudswoman reported that in 2025, a further decrease in the number of complaints on pushbacks to the Ombudsperson was recorded. However, the Ombudswoman also observed that some Civil Society Organisations (CSO) continued to report on the collected testimonies of persons being pushed back and and individual complaints from the persons who were pushed back have also been received.-[6]
The Save the Children[7] reported that pushbacks of refugees and migrants at the EU external border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) remain a systematic practice, often involving violence and denial of due process. Between August 2024 and October 2025, the organization documented 1,811 testimonies of pushbacks in the BiH border region, including 276 cases involving children, 237 of whom were unaccompanied or separated. Many children showed signs of psychological distress following these incidents. Testimonies describe frequent verbal abuse, humiliating treatment, confiscation of personal belongings such as mobile phones, and actions intended to hinder return attempts, including forcing people to remove shoes or clothing. Some reports include encounters with masked and uniformed individuals, sometimes accompanied by dogs, and accounts of physical violence such as beatings with hands, batons, or blunt objects, occasionally resulting in injuries requiring medical attention.
Similarly, Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN)[8] reported ongoing violent pushbacks from Croatia to BiH, highlighting consistent patterns of abuse. Accounts describe repeated incidents of intimidation, theft, and destruction of personal belongings, often occurring without assessment of asylum claims or protection needs. Testimonies also refer to the use of batons, metal bars, belts, and dogs, as well as cases in which individuals were forced into rivers during pushbacks. Particularly concerning are reports of the destruction of essential medical equipment, including insulin and blood-sugar monitoring devices, which in some cases led to later medical interventions. The report also notes increasing risks for people on the move after pushbacks, including exposure to armed gangs operating along the BiH–Croatia border who reportedly engage in kidnapping and extortion.
Im June 2025, BVMN submitted Joint Submission to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants for the Report to the UN General Assembly on the Externalization of Migration and the Impact on the Human Rights of Migrants. Croatia is listed as one of the 16 countries from which BVMN has gathered testimonies of pushbacks.[9]
The No Name Kitchen (NNK) submitted its findings and observations, focusing on violence against people on the move on Croatian territory for the Universal Periodic Review of Croatia in November 2025.[10]
The Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) also reported a continuation of pushbacks. CPS also reported that non-governmental organizations operating in BiH have occasionally witnessed large groups of people being returned from Croatian territory. According to CPS, these actions are distinct from formal readmission procedures based on bilateral agreements, in which the Croatian police formally hand over individuals to the Bosnian authorities.[11]
The Croatian Red Cross reported that humanitarian aid was provided to migrants apprehended at the state border and temporarily detained in police stations, as well as those found to be residing or moving irregularly within Croatia. Humanitarian aid packages typically consisted of food, water, hygiene supplies, footwear, underwear, or clothing. This activity was implemented through local Croatian Red Cross branches across the country, with an emphasis on those located near the state borders with BiH and Serbia.[12]
During the year 2025, reports of injured and dead migrants were also made. In one case in December 2025, three migrants trying to cross from Bosnia into Croatia drowned after their boat overturned in the River Sava near the town Slavonski Brod.[13]
Reactions from UN bodies and European human rights bodies
In October 2023, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) published its Concluding observations on the combined ninth to fourteenth periodic reports of Croatia. CERD states that the Committee is concerned about reports of cases of expulsions and pushbacks of migrants, and of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials resulting in injuries and bodily harm and accordingly recommends to Croatia to refrain from conducting collective expulsions and pushbacks, provide access to its territory for persons in need of international protection, respect the principle of non-refoulement and conduct investigations into cases of collective expulsions, pushbacks and excessive use of force and violence by law enforcement officials against migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.[14]
In September 2023, the Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its baseline evaluation report on Croatia.[15] GREVIO carried out an evaluation visit to Croatia from 17 to 21 October 2022. GREVIO’s report contains a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention in Croatia. It acknowledges the steps taken by Croatia to comply with the Istanbul convention and identifies areas where progress is still needed. In its report on Croatia, GREVIO made some observations and recommendations which are related to migrant and asylum-seeking women. Amongst other, GREVIO stated that it was alerted about the denial of access to the territory and asylum as well as of violence and misconduct by border police at the borders with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina of sufficient severity to amount to inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Those reports included incidents involving women, pregnant women, female-headed households, families with children and unaccompanied and separated children. GREVIO urges the Croatian authorities to urgently identify and take action in all cases of border police violence against women to provide justice for past abuse and ensure such abuse is not permitted to take place with impunity in the future.
In addition, GREVIO strongly encourages the Croatian authorities to take measures to ensure that improvements are made in the identification, processing and protection of migrant and asylum-seeking women who are or may become victims of gender-based violence. This includes, amongst other, ensuring that all women arriving at the border are allowed to have their claim for international protection recognised and recorded; collecting quantitative and qualitative data on the number of women arriving at the border; providing standard operating procedures and gender-sensitive guidance on identifying, interviewing, processing and determining claims of gender-based violence to all officials likely to encounter migrant women. The existing standard operating procedures relating to prevention and protection in accommodation centers may serve as a good model: ensuring that adequate information is provided to women seeking asylum at the borders, in landing settings, hotspots and reception facilities to increase their awareness of their vulnerabilities and rights, their right to redress in case of mistreatment by border guards or others and facilitating their access to general and specialist support services; and monitoring and evaluating the impact of the training provided to border and migration officials.
On 18 July 2024, the Human Rights Committee adopted the Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Croatia. In its observations the Committee noted that it was concerned by reports of the denial of access to the territory and to asylum procedures for persons entering irregularly from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and their forced return without any individual screening of their claims or needs. The Committee also highlighted that it was concerned by reports of the excessive use of force, inhuman and degrading treatment, extortion and theft of property by Croatian border control personnel, notably in the context of the pushbacks of migrants and asylum-seekers into the territory of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the very limited efforts to hold those responsible to account. The Committee stressed that Croatia should ensure effective access to a fair and efficient asylum procedures for all persons in need of international protection and should also ensure that all relevant officials, including border control personnel, receive adequate training on international standards, including on the principle of non-refoulement and the human rights of migrants, including those of children, and that all allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment at borders are promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated and the perpetrators, if found guilty, are punished with sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.[16]
Litigation on access to asylum system and pushback practices and relevant complaints
In July 2025, in the case Y.K. v. Croatia, the ECtHR confirmed that Croatian authorities violated Articles 3 and 13 of the ECHR by repeatedly refusing to allow a Turkish national of Kurdish ethnicity to apply for international protection.[17] The applicant argued before the ECtHR that the competent Croatian authorities had disregarded his intention to lodge an application for international protection that he expressed in the Reception Centre for Foreigners. His intention to seek international protection was also communicated through his attorney, as well as directly to the head of the center in the presence of advisors from the Office of the Ombudswoman. He also claimed that he did not have access to effective legal remedies to challenge the expulsion and return decisions, as these did not have an automatic suspensive effect and because his access to a attorney was limited. The ECtHR found that the Croatian authorities had deported the applicant to North Macedonia involuntarily, without allowing him access to the international protection procedure. The ECtHR further noted that the decision of the Croatian authorities to remove the applicant to North Macedonia, a Contracting Party to the Convention, did not relieve them of their obligation to assess his ability to access the asylum procedure there, including the adequacy of that procedure in light of the applicant’s specific circumstances. Accordingly, the ECtHR found a violation of the procedural limb of Article 3 and of Article 13 taken in conjunction with Article 3 ECHR.
In the case M.H. and others v. Croatia, concerning an Afghan family of 14, the ECtHR found that Croatia had violated several Articles of the ECHR. According to the complainants, the mother and her six children were pushed back by Croatian authorities in November 2017 after crossing the border from Serbia. The group was intercepted by Croatian police officers while resting in a field and despite expressing the wish to seek asylum they were taken back to the border and told to return to Serbia by following a train track in the area. As a train passed, it hit one of the children, a six-year-old girl that died following the incident. On 21 March 2018, Croatian authorities apprehended the applicants, who had attempted a second crossing. Despite expressing a wish to apply for asylum they were detained in a transit immigration centre in Tovarnik. In its judgment, the ECtHR found several violations of the ECHR including ineffective investigation into the child’s death (Article 2 procedural aspect), degrading treatment of child applicants detained for a period above two months (Article 3 substantive aspect), failure to demonstrate required assessment, vigilance and expedition in proceedings in order to limit family detention as far as possible (Article 5 § 1), restriction of contact with the chosen lawyer, pressure placed on the lawyer aimed at discouraging pursuit of case (Article 34), and collective expulsion by Croatian police outside official border crossing and without prior notification of Serbian authorities (Article 4 § 4). In April 2022, in the case M.H. and Others v. Croatia,[18] the ECtHR’s Grand Chamber panel of five judges rejected the Croatian request for referral and the judgement became final.[19]
The organisation Centre for Peace Studies – who intervened in the case – and activist alliance Are You Syrious called for the interior minister and others responsible within the police to be dismissed in light of the ruling. In December 2022, the Action plan was published.[20] The plan concerns measures that the authorities have taken to bring the violations to an end and to provide redress to the applicants. The Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb prepared recommendations for the execution of the judgment of M.H. and Others against Croatia.[21]
In 2023, Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb prepared second recommendations for the execution of the judgment of M.H. and Others against Croatia.[22] With this submission, the organisations gave proposals for measures to execute the judgment and prevent further violations of the human rights of refugees and other migrants in Croatia. The aim of submission is to inform the Committee of Ministers that the measures proposed by the Government are not sufficient for the appropriate implementation of the judgement. Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb, stated that individual measures have been ineffective and insufficient. Regarding the general measures, they stated that structural and complex problems amounting to systematic human rights violations have continued and are still ongoing in Croatia.[23]
In July 2024, the Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb submitted a final communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments and terms of friendly settlements, in the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia.[24] With this third submission, they are calling on the Government of the Republic of Croatia to adopt a concrete action plan that includes an effective investigation, the sanctioning of those responsible, and compensation to the family. They also demand systemic changes to end unlawful pushbacks, ensure accountability, and establish effective oversight of police conduct and adherence to the rule of law in Croatia.[25]
The Ombudsperson, as a member of the Expert Council for the execution of judgments and decisions of the ECtHR, in 2023, proposed improvements to the Action Plan, judging that the proposed measures are not sufficient and do not address every conclusion and recommendation of international bodies and organisations to which the judgment refers. Given that the Ombudsperson’s proposals were not adopted to a satisfactory extent, the Ombudsperson, as a national institution for the protection of human rights, used the possibility to communicate its remarks and proposals directly to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in September 2023. The Ombudsperson proposed the establishment of a specialised department or designation of persons specially in charge of these issues within the State attorney’s offices, to deal with criminal charges against police officers. The Ombudsperson also proposed creating special protocols for such cases. Keeping in mind the numerous negative effects that deprivation of children’s freedom has on their physical and mental health and development, the Ombudsperson recommended the development of a plan to ban the placement of children in reception centres for foreigners, especially in cases of long-term deprivation of liberty, as was the case with the brothers and sisters of the deceased girl in the case M.H and Others v. Croatia. The Ombudsperson also proposed providing attorneys at law with unimpeded access and CSOs with effective access to reception centres for foreigners; establishing a system of accountability that would enable effective investigation of pushbacks and collective expulsion of migrants; providing the institution of the Ombudsperson with systematic and continuous access to data; as well as a series of measures aimed at informing migrants about their rights.[26]
The case is under enhanced supervision before the Committee of Ministers.[27]
In its 2023 Annual Report,[28] the Committee of Ministers reported that it “examined M. H. and Others v. Croatia, concerning inter alia the collective expulsion of a family of asylum-seekers along the railway line at the Croatian border with Serbia and the lack of effective investigation into the death of one of the children who was hit by a train, as well as the detention of the family in prison type conditions which violated the right of minor children under Article 3. It took note of the ex officio reopening of the criminal investigations on the circumstances leading to the death of the child and asked for the examination of all available evidence and proper involvement of the applicants and their legal representative in the investigation. The Committee welcomed the establishment of the independent border monitoring mechanism, the first of its kind in all Member States, and noted also the efforts to make the asylum procedure more accessible, including the translation of the asylum information in various languages. The Committee invited the authorities to provide information on the steps taken to limit the detention of children in immigration centres with prison-type elements; and noted with interest the introduction of a regular ex officio judicial review of detention orders as well as a positive trend in the application of alternative measures to immigration detention and the efforts taken by the authorities to ensure the police, including the border police act with diligence in asylum proceedings.”
With regard to the criminal investigation into the child’s death that was reopened ex officio, investigative actions were taken throughout 2022 and 2023, including interviews with key witnesses and suspects. However, on 24 May 2024, prosecutors dismissed the criminal complaint against three police officers, citing insufficient grounds for prosecution. The decision was communicated to the applicants’ lawyer.[29]
The Ombudswoman for Children in her report for 2024 stated that the office is monitoring the Decisions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from September 2023 regarding the supervision of the execution of the judgment M.H. and others against Croatia. The aforementioned Decisions relate to the monitoring of the execution of the judgment in the form of implementing individual measures to continue the investigation, but also general measures, such as the importance of establishing an independent border control mechanism, treating migrants in accordance with the ECHR, improving access to the asylum procedure and limiting the detention of children in detention centres. The case of M.H. and Others against Croatia is under enhanced supervision, as a result of which the Republic of Croatia is obliged to develop an Action Plan by March 2025, which presents the measures that the State has taken and intends to take to implement the judgment.[30] In March 2025, the Croatian Goverment submitted the action plan regarding the implementation of the judgment.[31]
In line with Rule 9.2 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments and of the terms of friendly settlements, in April 2025 the Border Violence Monitoring Network (“BVMN”) presented a communication concerning the execution of general measures established by the ECtHR.[32]
In June 2025, the Committee of Ministers examined the execution of this judgment. The Committee of Ministers has noted progress in the execution of the judgment and officially closed the examination of two issues: prolonged placement of children in transit centres with prison-type element and the restrictions on access to legal counsel. The Committee of Ministers expects the Croatian authorities to provide further information and continue efforts in several areas. In particular, as regards individual measures they are requested to report on the outcome of the pending constitutional complaint concerning the effectiveness of the reopened criminal investigation into the death of the child.
At the level general mesures, the authorities are encouraged to take further steps to ensure that prosecutorial investigations are fully compliant with Convention standards, including through continued training and awareness-raising. They are also invited to continue providing examples of administrative court case-law and statistical data on the use of detention and restriction of movement orders, as well as information on the length of asylum proceedings before the administrative courts and the MoI. In addition, the authorities are encouraged to ensure that all relevant decisions affecting migrants are communicated in a language they can understand and to further strengthen the independent border monitoring mechanism.
In 2022, a Rohingya child submitted complaints against Croatia and Slovenia before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for multiple violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). After many years looking for protection, he spent over a year in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2020 to 2021, having to survive without State support or medical care, sleeping rough in forests and squatting in abandoned buildings. During this time, he was pushed back five times from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Slovenia, he was subjected to a “chain” pushback, by which he was forcibly returned first to Croatia by Slovenian authorities and then onwards by Croatian authorities to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The child faced beatings by Croatian border officers, had his belongings burnt and his shoes confiscated. The applicant’s complaints argue violations of the CRC, in relation to his expulsions and ill-treatment, and the States’ failure to assess his age or apply any of the relevant safeguards under Articles 3, 8, 20(1), and 37 CRC. The child corroborated his accounts with a range of digital evidence. The complaints were filed against Croatia and Slovenia with the support of ECCHR and Blindspots.[33] In January 2024, the Border Violence Monitoring Network submitted a Third Party Intervention in the mentioned case to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.[34] In its submission, BVMN tried to demonstrate the modus operandi of chain pushbacks involving Slovenia and Croatia. The report focuses mainly on incidents happening in 2020 and 2021, to cover the period at issue in the present case, but BVMN argues that more recent data were also highlighted to show that these practices still take place.
In 2024, the NGO No Name Kitchen (NNK) submitted a request for response regarding torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment by the Croatian border authorities to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.[35] The submission, as stated by NNK, presents detailed evidence of torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment carried out by Croatian border authorities against people on the move.
In 2025, the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS),[36] together with AsyLex, a non-profit organisation from Switzerland, submitted a joint Request for Inquiry to the UN Committee Against Torture into the systemic practice of torture and other cruel and inhuman behaviours against applicants for international protection and other migrants, which violate Croatia’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).[37]
In 2025, No Name Kitchen (NNK) submitted their findings and observations, focusing on violence against people on the move on Croatian territory for the Universal Periodic Review of Croatia.[39]
In April 2025, the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia, together with the Ombudswoman for Children, the Ombudswoman for Gender Equality and the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities, submitted a joint contribution for Croatia’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the UN Human Rights Council.[40] The contribution noted that while the Ombudswoman’s Office recorded fewer complaints about pushbacks, civil society organisations continue to report such allegations, stressing the need for effective investigations.
Croatia presented its Fourth Report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council in November 2025.[41]
Border monitoring
In January 2025, ministers of interior affairs of Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy signed a memorandum on trilateral border patrols. By this operational Memorandum of Understanding all three parties agreed on the modalities of joint trilateral patrols on the external border of Croatia.[42] On 16 June 2025, joint trilateral police patrols involving officers from Slovenia, Croatia and Italy began operating along Croatia’s external border. The joint patrols aim to improve coordinated control of the Schengen area’s external borders, combat cross-border crime and curb irregular migration.[43] According to information from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, a pilot project titled ‘Implementation of Trilateral Patrols on the EU External Border’ was conducted from June 16 to September 16, 2025, in the area of the Karlovac Police Administration, specifically at the Cetingrad Border Police Station. The project is the result of cooperation and joint efforts between the Croatian, Italian and Slovenian police forces, aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation and ensuring more effective state border surveillance. By mutual agreement of all three parties, the trilateral patrols continued beyond the pilot phase until December 12, 2025, when they were temporarily suspended due to the upcoming commitments of Italian police officers at the Winter Olympic Games.[44] The Croatian side provided the necessary technical and logistical support, including vehicles, equipment, and accommodation for the guest police officers. A total of 344 trilateral joint patrols were conducted during 2025.
According to the draft annual police report, the results achieved confirm that trilateral joint patrols strengthen the protection of the EU’s external border and contribute to the sense of security among the local population. At the same time, they reduce the pressure of unlawful migration on the internal borders of the European Union, thereby contributing to the lifting of temporarily reintroduced border controls at the Slovenian and Italian borders.[45]
The Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the Conduct of Police Officers of the Ministry of the Interior in the Area of Irregular Migration and International Protection (IMM) was established by a Cooperation Agreement in June 2021. The signatories of the Cooperation Agreement were the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia (MoI), on the one hand, and the the Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), the Croatian Academy of Legal Sciences (CALS), the Centre for the Culture of Dialogue (CCD), the Croatian Red Cross (CRC), and a law professor as an independent legal expert, on the other hand. In 2025, the Centre for Balkan Criminology and Security (CBCS) joined the IMM.
Initially the IMM was established for a one-year period with the possibility of extension, while activities were planned to be carried out at the Croatian border (border crossings / police stations / police administrations) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia and in the reception centres for foreigners. During that time, the IMM conducted 20 monitoring visits (both announced and unannounced). In December 2021, the IMM published its First Semi-Annual Report.[46] In June 2022, the IMM published its Annual Report for the period June 2021 – June 2022.[47] More information on IMM’s findings can be found in the previous update of the present AIDA report.[48]
A second agreement[49] was signed in November 2022 to be implemented for a period of 18 months with automatic extension, through announced and unannounced visits to police stations, police administrations, the external border, including the green border, at the border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as in the Reception Centre for Applicants of International Protection and in reception centres for foreigners.[50]
The monitoring activities consist of: announced monitoring visits to all locations listed above as well as unannounced monitoring visits to all listed locations, including the green border; access to specific case files; access to the case file of the subject under observation; access to finalized case files concerning submitted complaints regarding alleged unlawful conduct towards irregular migrants and applicants for international protection and access to activities and reports of the MoI’s Police Directorate related to alleged unlawful conduct towards irregular migrants and applicants for international protection. According to the Cooperation Agreement, the activities of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism include 20 annual visits (announced and unannounced).
The direct activities of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism are carried out by monitors. Within 15 days from the date of signing the Cooperation Agreement, the Coordination Committee shall appoint two monitors from each civil society organization that is a signatory to the Agreement.
Within seven (7) days after the monitoring visits, monitors shall jointly compile an individual report and submit it to the Coordinating Committee.
The Ombudsperson reported that during 2023, the IMM has published neither an annual nor semi-annual report on its work.[51]
The IMM’s semi-annual report covering the period from November 2022 to July 2024 (monitoring activities carried out from 1 June to 31 December 2023) was published in July 2024.[52] According to the Report,[53] due to issues in the implementation of the Mechanism’s activities, including challenges in the disbursement of project funds and communication difficulties, the publication of the Semi-Annual Report and all related agreed activities (such as the launch of the website, etc.) were delayed.
The Semi-Annual Report covers the following periods:
- From November 2022, when the second Cooperation Agreement was signed, until 15 June 2023, when monitoring activities commenced. During this period, the IMM carried out a large portion of the activities defined by the Agreement. However, monitoring activities were not conducted due to numerous inconsistencies within the project itself, which the MoI subsequently presented to the signatories of the Agreement.
- From 15 June 2023 to 31 December 2023, 53 on-site monitoring visits were conducted, which served as the primary basis for the preparation of the Semi-Annual Report. During this period, the IMM also carried out other activities defined by the Agreement, as well as additional activities not explicitly outlined in the Agreement. During this time, the IMM did not regularly process payments for expenses and compensations to the members of the IMM, mainly due to administrative reasons.
- From 31 December 2023 to 23 July 2024, basic activities and four on-site monitoring visits were carried out, primarily triggered by information received via media reports or emails warning of potential human rights violations against migrants. The statistics included in Semi-Annual Report also cover this period, which, although not formally part of the Semi-Annual Report, is considered equally relevant to the IMM’s work.
The report also states that the Chair of the IMM’s Coordination Committee resigned from the position in September 2023, and that position remained unfilled by the time the report was written in July 2024.
Out of a total of 53 monitoring visits conducted between 1 June 2023 and 31 December 2023,
43 visits were unannounced (81%), while 10 were announced (19%). The monitoring covered a total of 20 locations, including: border police stations, border crossing points, police stations, transit reception centres, and reception centres for foreigners. In addition to independent monitoring visits, observers also conducted joint visits in cooperation with FRONTEX personnel at the Bajakovo Border Police Station on 27 September 2023, and at the Stara Gradiška Border Police Station.
According to the report, special attention was given to border crossings in the far eastern and southern parts of the border, due to reports received regarding the conduct of police officers.
Furthermore, interviews with migrants were conducted by IMM without the presence of police officers, with the aim of identifying every step of the procedure prior to their arrival at reception centres, in order to provide the most accurate possible representation of how the entire system operates.
The report states that findings indicate that, in terms of infrastructure, reception centres, border police stations, and police stations are adequate for both long-term and short-term accommodation of migrants. Depending on the location where migrants are apprehended and the required duration of their stay, they are transported to facilities where accommodation is appropriate for both the length of their stay and the number of individuals. In cases where improvements were necessary in this area, monitors issued recommendations (e.g., to the Ston Police Station and Gruda Border Police Station). Based on a standardized questionnaire, monitors collect data related to the location of monitoring, individuals interviewed, the conduct of police officers, the MoI’s information system, conditions related to accommodation and food, transportation (marked and unmarked vehicles, particularly for vulnerable groups), availability of access to international protection procedures, availability of translation and interpreters, and all other aspects relevant to the protection of the rights of irregular migrants.
In 2024, the IMM established a webpage.[54] A contact form is available at the website,[55] through which information on actions taken by police officers of the MoI in the area of border surveillance, irregular migration and international protection can be submitted. However, a disclaimer included on the site indicates that IMM is not a complaint-based mechanism (i.e., it is not a prosecutorial or judicial monitoring mechanism), and is thus not empowered to take up individual complaints.
The Ombudswoman, together with the European Commission, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer, IOM Croatia, UNHCR Croatia and the Ombudsman for Children, participated in the work of the IMM Advisory Board, with the task of providing guidance for improving the independence and effectiveness of that body. However, the Ombudswoman withdrew from the membership of the IMM Advisory Board in March 2025.[56]
The Ombudswoman states that the role of the IMM in dealing with complaints is unclear. On the one hand, the IMM website states that “the IMM is not a complaint mechanism“. However, it is evident from IMM’s Reports that the IMM did act on complaints in the past. Back in the Ombudswoman Report for 2022, it was emphasized that the IMM, as a mechanism established by an agreement, should not take over the responsibility of legally established institutions responsible for investigating allegations of illegalities or irregularities in police work, and that any (new) mechanism should have clear and transparent statutory powers.[57]
Since December 2024, the IMM has been conducting a targeted monitoring operation based on suspected violations of fundamental rights by police officers.[58]
According to the Annual Report for 2025, in 2025, the IMM conducted 53 monitoring missions and 204 monitoring operations, including 49 green-border monitorings and 52 interviews with migrants. IMM monitors were present in the field on average every week and, as a rule, visited three locations within a single monitoring mission: reception centres, border police stations and the green border. For the first time in the IMM’s mandate, monitors also visited airport and maritime police stations. Compared to the previous reporting period, the IMM’s field presence was 3.8 times greater.[59]
In January 2025, the Head of the IMM met with the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).[60]
In March, 2025, the IMM organized a hybrid workshop titled “Discussion on the Findings of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism and Border Control Activities”. The event brought together approximately 50 representatives from the Croatian MoI along with IMM’s monitors, associates, and Coordination Board members. The workshop focused on several key areas aimed at enhancing the protection of migrants’ fundamental rights: presentation of recommendations from the IMM Semi-Annual Report, discussion on the Ministry of Interior’s Action Plan and the Advisory Board’s recommendations. In addition, the IMM monitors shared field experiences and and enabled the exchange of best practices in operational cooperation with police officers in border areas.[61]
In September 2025, a delegation from the Council of Europe (the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR and the Division on Migration and Refugees) visited Croatia. The mission aimed to assess progress in implementing the M.H. and Others judgment and to evaluate the ongoing development of monitoring of borders, especially through the IMM and protection of migrant children. During the visit, the delegation held consultations with key national institutions, including the MoI, the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the State Attorney’s Office, and Ombudspersons, as well as UNHCR and civil society. To gain insight, the Division on Migration and Refugees also visited the Reception Centre for applicants for international protection in Kutina and the One Stop Shop in Zagreb.[62]
Due to stability and increase in IMM funding for 2025, monitoring operations intensified significantly – 150% increase in the first half of 2025 when compared to the earlier periods (June 2021 to December 2024), while accounting for different time spans of IMM being operational.[63]
According to the information on the IMM’s website, throughout 2025, the IMM maintained a continuous presence in the field, marking a significant step forward and a substantial increase in the volume of activities compared to 2024. IMM observers were engaged in monitoring missions on a nearly weekly basis. A total of 53 monitoring missions were conducted, encompassing 202 monitoring operations across Croatia. These activities covered the green border, as well as blue and air borders, further expanding the IMM’s operational scope compared to previous periods. Monitoring activities were carried out almost exclusively unannounced, without prior notification to the MoI regarding the timing or locations of the missions and/or operations. The sole exception to this rule applies to airport police stations, where prior announcement is mandatory due to specific security and logistical constraints. As a rule, monitoring missions included oversight at a minimum of three different types of locations per mission, such as: police stations and border crossing points; maritime areas and airports; reception centres for foreigners and green border surveillance. In 2025, IMM observers covered 102 distinct locations, conducted 48 unannounced observations of the green border, and held 52 interviews with migrants. Interviews were conducted regularly, with strict adherence to the principles of informed consent and “do-no-harm.”[64]
In 2025, UNHCR and the Croatian Law Centre in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior organised and held two workshops on access to the international protection system and protection of vulnerable groups for the border police officials. Lectures were held on the following topics: human rights of the persons on the move and access to the asylum system, recognition and protection of vulnerable groups, techniques of interviewing vulnerable groups, responsibility of police officers regarding the prevention of irregular migration. Altogether, 30 police officers attended the trainings.
Legal access to the territory
By 2019, Croatia fulfilled its commitment to resettle 250 Syrian refugees from Türkiye under the 2015 and 2017 government decisions, following several selection missions. However, a 2019 decision to resettle an additional 150 persons was never implemented and was revoked in 2022.
In addition, a new Decision on relocation of the third country nationals or stateless persons who meet the conditions for approval of international protection was adopted in July 2022.[65] In accordance with the aforementioned decision, Croatia is to participate in the relocation of 60 third-country nationals or stateless persons who meet the conditions for granting international protection from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Spain. Based on that decision, on 1 March 2023, Croatia accepted 10 applicants for international protection from Italy, as part of voluntary programme of solidarity with EU Member states under great migration pressure. Applicants were citizens of the Ivory Coast (three married couples, one of whom has a minor child, and three single men). The mentioned persons arrived in Croatia accompanied by IOM employees.[66] According to information provided by IOM, in 2023, IOM assisted in the relocation of migrants from Italy to Croatia by purchasing travel tickets, organising travel, stabilising their health condition before departure, assisting in transit and operational escort.[67]
In May 2023, the European Commission kicked off the new pledging exercise for a 2-year period (2024 and 2025), inviting countries to submit their national commitments. Croatia has pledged to resettle 100 persons over the period 2024-2025.[68]
Implementation of the Decision on Relocation of Citizens of Third Countries or Stateless Persons who meet the Conditions for Approval of International Protection, adopted by the Croatian Government in July 2022, continued throughout 2024. In 2024, a total of 28 individuals seeking international protection were relocated from Italy to Croatia.[69]
Apart from that, in response to the call of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for evacuations from Afghanistan of people whose lives and security were endangered by the arrival of the Taliban regime, Croatia accepted 41 Afghan nationals between August and December 2021, including 16 children. Most were granted asylum, while three left Croatia to reunite with family members.[70]
There is no humanitarian visa foreseen under Croatian legislation for persons in need of international protection.
[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council; The European Annual Asylum and Migration Report (2025), available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0795.
[2] Ministry of Interior: Statistical overview of the fundamental safety indicators and work results in 2025, available at: https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/statistika/2026/4/statisti%C4%8Dki%20pokazatelji/Statisticki_pregled_2025_WEB.pdf?vel=3446368.
[3] Government of the Republic of Croatia, 169th Session, 14 May 2026,Draft Report on the Work of the Police in 2025, available at: https://vlada.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2016/Sjednice/2026/Svibanj/169_sjednica_VRH/169%20-%2013.docx?vel=6827361.
[4] Government of the Republic of Croatia, 169th Session, 14 May 2026,Draft Report on the Work of the Police in 2025, available at: https://vlada.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2016/Sjednice/2026/Svibanj/169_sjednica_VRH/169%20-%2013.docx?vel=6827361.
[5] See, Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN), Monthly Reports, available at: https://borderviolence.eu/uploads/document/file/460/BVMN-Monthly-Report-Jan-2025.pdf; https://borderviolence.eu/uploads/document/file/467/BVMN_Monthly_Report__Feb_2025_.pdf; https://borderviolence.eu/uploads/document/file/484/BVMN_Monthly_Report_June_2025.pdf.pdf.
[6] Ombudswoman: Annual Report for 2025, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvjesce-pucke-pravobraniteljice-za-2025-godinu/?wpdmdl=23118&refresh=69cd1d3691f351775050038.
[7] Save the Children: Beaten by Batons, Bitten by Dogs – The Harsh Realities for Children Travelling the Balkans Route: Spotlight on Pushbacks at the External Border with Croatia (2025), available at: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/Spotlight-on-pushbacks-from-Croatia-BMDH-November-2025.pdf.
[8] Border Violence Monitoring Network: Balkan Regional Report – June 2025, available at:
https://borderviolence.eu/uploads/document/file/484/BVMN_Monthly_Report_June_2025.pdf.pdf.
[9] Border Violence Monitoring Network: Joint Submission by the Border Violence Monitoring Network to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants for the Report to the UN General Assembly on the Externalization of Migration and the Impact on the Human Rights of Migrants, available at: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/migration/cfis/externalization/subm-ext-migr-impact-cso-8-border-violence-monitoring-ne2rk.pdf.
[10] No Name Kitchen: “Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of Croatia in November 2025, available at: https://bloodyborders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NNK-Croatia-UPR-Submission-2025.pdf
[11] Information provided by the Centre for Peace studies, 2 March 2026.
[12] Croatian Red Cross: Annual Report of the Croatian Red Cross for 2025,available at: https://www.hck.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Pristup%20informacijama/Dokumenti,%20zakonski%20i%20podzakonski%20akti/Izvje%C5%A1%C4%87e%20o%20radu%20HCK%20u%202025.pdf?vel=3338517
[13] BalkanInsight: Three Migrants Die Crossing River on Croatia-Bosnia Border, available at: https://balkaninsight.com/2025/12/11/three-migrants-die-crossing-river-on-croatia-bosnia-border/bi/
[14] United Nations, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Concluding observations on the combined ninth to fourteenth periodic reports of Croatia, CERD/C/HRV/CO/9-14, 2 October 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3xdOlYe, 8.
[15] GREVIO, (Baseline) Evaluation Report on legislative and other measures giving effect to the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)-CROATIA, 26 May 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/4bdxB10.
[16] Human Rights Committee: Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Croatia, available at: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4061868/files/CCPR_C_HRV_CO_4-EN.pdf?ln=en.
[17] ECtHR, Judgment in the case OF Y.K. v. Croatia (Application no. 38776/21), available at: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22appno%22:[%2238776/21%22]}.
[18] ECtHR, Judgment in the case of M.H. and others v. Croatia (Applications nos. 15670/18 and 43115/18), available at: http://bit.ly/3yWYBRT.
[19] ECtHR: Grand Chamber Panel’s decisions – April 2022, Press Release – Referrals to Grand Chamber, published on April 4, 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3z0PoI9.
[20] ECtHR: Action Plan-Communication from Croatia concerning the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (Application No. 15670/18), available at: http://bit.ly/3LLlVJH.
[21] Recommendations of the Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb for the execution of the judgment of M.H. and Others against Croatia, available at: https://bit.ly/42Rajdg.
[22] Final recommendations of the Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb for the execution of the judgment of M.H. and Others against Croatia, 28 July 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3XscvZq.
[23] Human Rights House Zagreb and the Centre for Peace Studies RULE 9.2. COMMUNICATION in accordance with the Rules of the Committee of Ministers regarding the supervision of the execution of judgments and of terms of friendly settlements in the Case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia No. 15670/18 and 43115/18, 18 July 2023, available in English at: https://bit.ly/3VMzAVL.
[24] Centre for Peace Studies, Human Rights House Zagreb:Communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, 26 July 2025, available at: https://www.cms.hr/wp-content/uploads/CPS_HRHZ_Rule_9.2_M.H._July_2024.pdf.
[25] Information provided by the Centre for Peace Studies, 27 February 2025.
[26] Ombudswoman, Report of the Ombudswoman for 2023, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/4crt2kR.
[27] CoE, Department for the execution of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, Croatia: Main issues, 18 February 2025, available at: https://rm.coe.int/mi-croatia-eng/1680a23c83.
[28] Committee of Ministers, 17th Annual Report of the Committee of Ministers, April 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/4eG1xGf, 55.
[29] M.H. and Others v. Croatia, Status of Execution, available at: https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/eng#{%22execidentifier%22:[%22004-60187%22]}.
[30] Ombudswoman for Children: Report on the work of the Ombudswoman for Children in 2024, page 199, available at: https://dijete.hr/hr/download/izvjesce-o-radu-pravobraniteljice-za-djecu-za-2024-godinu/.
[31] Action Plan (20/03/2025) – Communication from Croatia concerning the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (Application No. 15670/18); available at: https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/ENG#{%22execidentifier%22:[%22DH-DD(2025)341E%22]}
[32] Rules 9.2 and 9.6 – Communication from an NGO (Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN)) (22/04/2025) in the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (Application No. 15670/18) and reply from the authorities (07/05/2025), available at: https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/ENG#{%22execidentifier%22:[%22DH-DD(2025)504revE%22]}.
[33] ECCHR, Rohingya child challenges Croatia and Slovenia over violent pushbacks, 6 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3PDQ0wG.
[34] Border Violence Monitoring Network: Third Party Intervention in the case U.F. v Croatia and Slovenia to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 5 January 2024, available at: https://borderviolence.eu/app/uploads/BVMN_TPI_UNCRC_UFvCroatiaSlovenia-1.pdf and https://www.ecchr.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/BVMN_TPI_Submission_UF_vs._Croatia_and_Slovenia.pdf.
[35] No Name Kitchen: Request for response regarding torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment by the Croatian border authorities, 26 September 2024, available at: https://www.nonamekitchen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/UNSPR_Sept24_Torture.pdf.
[36] Information provided by the Centre for Peace studies, 2 March 2026.
[37] Centre for Peace studies: Joint Request for Inquiry Regarding Croatia’s Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Other Migrants, Submitted to the Committee Against Torture by the Centre for Peace Studies and AsyLex , available at: https://www.cms.hr/en/executive-summary-joint-request-for-inquiry-regarding-croatias-treatment-of-asylum-seekers-and-other-migrants-submitted-to-the-committee-against-torture-by-the-centre-for-peace-studies-and/.
[38] Centre for Peace studies: Joint Request for Inquiry Regarding Croatia’s Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Other Migrants, Submitted to the Committee Against Torture by the Centre for Peace Studies and AsyLex, available at: https://www.cms.hr/en/executive-summary-joint-request-for-inquiry-regarding-croatias-treatment-of-asylum-seekers-and-other-migrants-submitted-to-the-committee-against-torture-by-the-centre-for-peace-studies-and/.
[39] No Name Kitchen (NNK): Submission for the Universal Periodic Review of Croatia in November 2025, available at: https://bloodyborders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NNK-Croatia-UPR-Submission-2025.pdf.
[40] Written contribution for the 4th Review of Croatia under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the situation of human rights by the UN Human Rights Council Joint submission by the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia in cooperation with the Ombudswoman for Children, Ombudswoman for Gender Equality and the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/written-contribution-for-the-4th-review-of-croatia-under-the-universal-periodic-review-upr/?wpdmdl=22376&refresh=69b02c32002281773153330.
[41] Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia: Croatia Defended Its 4th Report under the UN Universal Periodic Review, available in Croatian at: https://mvep.gov.hr/press/hrvatska-obranila-4-izvjesce-u-okviru-univerzalnog-periodicnog-pregleda-un-a/276355.
[42] Government of the Republic of Croatia: Ministers of Croatia, Slovenia and Italy discuss border situation, memorandum signed on trilateral border patrols; 20 January 2025, available at: https://vlada.gov.hr/news/ministers-of-croatia-slovenia-and-italy-discuss-border-situation-memorandum-signed-on-trilateral-border-patrols/43687.
[43] Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Slovenia: Joint trilateral police patrols begin on Croatia’s external border,available at: https://www.policija.si/eng/newsroom/news-archive/news-archive/125417-joint-trilateral-police-patrols-begin-on-croatia-s-external-border.
[44] Ministry of Interior: Annual Report on the Implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy of the Republic of Croatia 2024–2028, for the Year 2025, available at: https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2026/provedbeni%20programi%20-%20godisnja%20izvjesca/GODISNJE%20IZVJESCE%20O%20PROVEDBI%20STRATEGIJE%20INTEGRIRANOG%20UPRAVLJANJA%20GRANICOM.pdf.
[45] Government of the Republic of Croatia, 169th Session, 14 May 2026,Draft Report on the Work of the Police in 2025, available at: https://vlada.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2016/Sjednice/2026/Svibanj/169_sjednica_VRH/169%20-%2013.docx?vel=6827361.
[46] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: First Semi-Annual Report, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/1.%20SEMI-ANNUAL%20REPORT%2030%20JUNE%202022.pdf?vel=2001053.
[47] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Annual Report of the Independent Mechanism of Monitoring the actions of police officers of the Ministry of the Interior in the area of illegal migration and international protection, June 2021 – June 2022; available at https://www.nmn.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Annual%20report%20of%20the%20Independent%20monitoring%20mechanism%20-%201%20July%202022.pdf?vel=2061078.
[48] AIDA, Country Report: Croatia, 2022 Update, June 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3xp0QQG.
[49] Cooperation Agreement to Implement an Independent Monitoring Mechanism on the Protection of Fundamental Rights in Actions of Police Officers of the Ministry of the Interior in the Area of Border Surveillance, Irregular Migration and International Protection; available in Croatian at: https://www.hck.hr/UserDocsImages/Nezavisni%20mehanizam/Sporazum%20o%20suradnji%20radi%20provedbe%20nezavisnog%20mehanizma.pdf?vel=2506032 and in English at: https://www.hck.hr/UserDocsImages/Nezavisni%20mehanizam/22_146%20Sporazum%20NMN-final_EN.pdf?vel=217379.
[50] Ministry of Interior: A cooperation agreement was signed for the implementation of an independent monitoring mechanism for the protection of fundamental human rights in the conduct of police officers of the Ministry of Interior in the field of border protection, illegal migration and international protection; available at: http://bit.ly/3JGyjbs.
[51] Ombudswoman, Report of the Ombudswoman for 2023, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/4crt2kR.
[52] Ombudswoman: Report of the Ombudswoman for 2024, page 268, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvje-e-pu-ke-pravobraniteljice-za-2024-godinu/?wpdmdl=20339&refresh=67efca50785f31743768144/.
[53] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Semi-annual report of the independent monitoring mechanism on the conduct of police officers of the Ministry of the Interior in the area of border protection, irregular migration, and international protection, July 2024, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/SEMI-ANNUAL%20REPORT%20-%202024.pdf?vel=1897403.
[54] Available at https://www.nmn.hr/?id=6.
[55] The contact form is available at: https://www.nmn.hr/contact/32.
[56] Ombudswoman: Report of the Ombudswoman for 2024, page 268, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvje-e-pu-ke-pravobraniteljice-za-2024-godinu/?wpdmdl=20339&refresh=67efca50785f31743768144/.
[57] Ombudswoman: Report of the Ombudswoman for 2024, page 275, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvje-e-pu-ke-pravobraniteljice-za-2024-godinu/?wpdmdl=20339&refresh=67efca50785f31743768144.
[58] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Meeting with the Advisory Board to the IMM, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/featured/meeting-with-the-advisory-board-to-the-imm/40.
[59] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: IMM Annual Report 2025, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/IMM%202025%20Annual%20Report.pdf?vel=9510244
[60] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Meeting of Representatives of the IMM and the CPT, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/featured/meeting-of-representatives-of-the-imm-and-the-cpt/59.
[61] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Workshop of the IMM with MoI Representatives, available at:
https://www.nmn.hr/featured/workshop-of-the-imm-with-moi-representatives/49.
[62] Council of Europe: Mission to Croatia focused on border monitoring and protection of migrant children, available at: https://www.coe.int/ro/web/execution/-/mission-to-croatia-focused-on-border-monitoring-and-protection-of-migrant-children.
[63] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: Factsheet on the Croatian Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) prepared for the Council of Europe NFPs thematic session on IMMs (30/01/2026), available at: https://www.nmn.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/zadnje_Factsheet%20Final_ENG_zadnje.pdf?vel=268129.
[64] Independent Monitoring Mechanism: IMM in 2025: Significantly Strengthened Field Presence and Near-Weekly Monitoring, available at: https://www.nmn.hr/istaknuto/nmn-u-2025-godini-znatno-pojacana-terenska-prisutnost-i-gotovo-tjedni-nadzori/77.
[65] Official Gazette 88/2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3KNVO3f.
[66] Ministry of Interior: Ten people arrived in the Republic of Croatia as part of the relocation mechanism, 3 March 2023, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/4c5DxdR.
[67] Information provided by IOM, 29 January 2024.
[68] European Commission: Pledges submitted by the Member States for 2024-2025.
[69] Croatian Law Centre: The Croatian Asylum System in 2024- National Report; available at: https://www.hpc.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/National-Asylum-Report-2024_CLC.pdf.
[70] Ombudsperson, Annual report 2021, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3v5TsVi.; Ombudsperson for Children: Report on the work of the Ombudsman for Children in 2021, available in Croatian: https://bit.ly/3KzksTm