Author
The LITP allows for the detention of vulnerable applicants, if detention is suited to their special needs.[1] Moreover, it provides for detention of unaccompanied children, although for as short a period as possible.[2] No information is available on the number of vulnerable applicants who were detained in the detention centres in the course of 2019 and 2020.
While there is no public data on the use of detention for vulnerable applicants for international protection in 2022, the Ombudsperson for Children reported that the freedom of movement of 7 accompanied children of irregular migrants was restricted during the year. They were held in the Reception Centre for Foreigners Ježevo (5) and in the Transit Reception centres for foreigners Trilj and Tovarnik (2).[3]
In 2022, according to the Ministry of Interior’s Border Directorate, in the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Zagreb 5 separated children were accommodated – nationals of Türkiye, China and Iraq. In the Transit Reception Centre for Foreigners in Tovarnik there were 2 unaccompanied children from Türkiye detained, while there were no unaccompanied children detained in Transit Reception Centre for Foreigners Trilj in the course of 2022.[4]
In 2021,[5] there were no were child applicants for international protection (accompanied or unaccompanied) and applicants with special reception needs detained in the Reception Centre for Foreigners (or in the Transit Reception Centres).
In 2022,[6] there were no child applicants for international protection (accompanied or unaccompanied) in detention.
[1] Article 54(7) LITP.
[2] Article 54(8) LITP.
[3] Ombudsperson for Children: Report on the work of the Ombudsman for Children in 2022, available in Croatian: https://bit.ly/43C5ZPL.
[4] Croatian Law Centre, The Croatian Asylum System in 2022 – National Report. The report was prepared as part of the project “Legal Assistance and Capacity Building for Access to Territory and Asylum in Croatia“, with financial support of the UNHCR Croatia: available in English at: https://bit.ly/434T7RL.
[5] Croatian Law Centre: The Croatian Asylum System In 2021 – National Report, The report was prepared as part of the project “Access to the territory and the asylum system in Croatia – legal support and capacity building” with the financial support of UNHCR; available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3NgBDfc and in English at: https://bit.ly/3NBvVpC.
[6] Croatian Law Centre, The Croatian Asylum System in 2022 – National Report. The report was prepared as part of the project “Legal Assistance and Capacity Building for Access to Territory and Asylum in Croatia“, with financial support of the UNHCR Croatia: available in English at: https://bit.ly/434T7RL.