Activities

Initiatives of civil society organizations for changes of anti-discrimination policy

is a two-year project of the Center For Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - conducted in partnership with the Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance - Vukovar and the Serbian Democratic Forum funded by the European Community under the IPA 2008 Program Strengthening capacity and role of civil society organizations for monitoring implementation of the EU acquis communautaire in the field of comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy.

The overall objective of the project is improvement of communication between civil society and government in creating and developing strategy for combating discrimination.
The specific objectives of the project are:

• increasing availability of free legal aid to marginalized groups and thus contributing towards reducing discrimination based on economic status strengthening capacity of civil society organizations for greater participation in legislative initiatives and development of anti-discrimination policies.

Project activities include:

• provision of free legal aid,

• monitoring implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act and Anti-Discrimination Act,• drafting report with findings and recommendations,

• strengthen capacity of civil society organizations through training on the monitoring of public policies

• advocating for legislative changes. The intention is that the project implementing body through the implementation of these activities and regular and efficient cooperation with relevant institutions such as Ministry of Justice and the Ombudsman contribute towards improvement of anti-discrimination policies.

The project is aimed to low-earning citizens, civil society organizations engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, and organizations registered for provision of free legal aid.

The project is implemented on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in eight cities in Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Sirmium, Sisak-Moslavina and Karlovac County: Osijek, Beli, Vukovar, Vinkovci, Ilok, Glina, Petrinja and Vojnić.

We provide free legal aid in the following fields:
• Pension Insurance
• Health Insurance
• welfare,
• labor law,
• status rights,
• protection of children's rights,
• protection against domestic violence,
• inheritance law,
• rights of unemployed,
• housing care.

Free legal aid is intended for low-income citizens, such as:

• unemployed
• long-term unemployed,
• members of national minorities,
• women
• pensioners with minimum pensions,
• people affected by the war – displaced persons, returnees, refugees and
• other socially vulnerable persons.

Additional information about the project can be obtained in the Centre for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights Osijek, Gundulićeva 34/I, Osijek, telephone/faks: 031/206-887, www.centar-za-mir.hr.

Contact person: Ljiljana Božić- Krstanović, project manager.

E-mail: ljudska-prava@centar-za-mir.hr;

Public discussion 3^rd April 2013

On 3^rd April 2013 PUBLIC DISCUSSION was held on the Draft Law on Amendments of the Free Legal Aid Act Public discussion on the Draft Law on Amendments of the Free Legal Aid Act was held in Zagreb on 3^rd April 2013 in the premises of the Human Rights House. Event was organized by the Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - Osijek together with partners Centre for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance Vukovar and Serbian Democratic Forum, in cooperation with the Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty - University of Zagreb, Human Rights House and the Platform 112. Public discussion is a part of two years IPA Project 2008 "Initiative of civil society organizations for changes in the anti-discrimination policy".

The purpose of conducting this discussion was to open a dialogue about obstacles in the implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act and proposed amendments to the Act, and to focus on concrete solutions that contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the free legal aid system, especially in the field of primary legal aid.

Public discussion was attended by total of 50 participants: representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsman, representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman-offices for gender equality, children and people with disabilities, the Office for Cooperation with NGOs, the Office for Human Rights and rights of National Minorities of the Government of RoC, the National Foundation for Development of Civil Society, UNHCR, British Embassy, authorised association, Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty-University of Zagreb, representatives of civil society organizations.

A key conclusion of this public discussion is an urgent need for changes of the Free Legal Aid Act in order to take into account opinions of legal aid providers and professionals and through establishing a less restrictive conditions and simplification of the approval process of primary legal aid to wide range of beneficiaries who need such assistance.

Following institution published their notes from the public discussion on their websites:

http://www.prs.hr/index.php/suradnja/ocd/634-javna-rasprava-o-nacrtu-prijedloga-zakona-o-izmjenama-i-dopunama-zakona-o-besplatnoj-pravnoj-pomoci

http://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/novosti-iz-ureda/354-puka-pravobraniteljica-o-sustavu-besplatne-pravne-pomoi.html

http://www.dijete.hr/hr/naslovnica-mainmenu-1/1560-rasprava-o-izmjenama-zakona-o-besplatnoj-pravnoj-pomoi-.html

ROUND TABLE held on 12^th June 2012

"Experiences in implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act - The role of legal aid in combating discrimination"

The round table "Experiences in implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act - The role of legal aid in combating discrimination" was held in Zagreb on 12^th June 2012 at the Hotel Arcotel Allegra under the IPA 2008 project" The initiative of civil society organizations for changes in the anti-discrimination policy”. The round table was organised by the Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights Osijek and partner organizations Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance Vukovar and Serbian Democratic Forum.

The purpose of the round table was to open communication between civil and public sectors on status and problems in the implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act, and possibilities and opportunities for finding common measures to address them.

The roundtable was attended by 44 participants in total: representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman Office, Office for Cooperation with NGOs, Faculty of Law in Zagreb, Croatian Bar Association, State Administrative Office for granting free legal aid, authorised organisation for provision of free legal aid, Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty Zagreb, civil society organizations from Croatia and neighboring countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
The project team presented a report on monitoring of the implementation of the Free Legal Aid Act for 2011.

Speakers at the round table discussed about importance of legal aid system in combating discrimination in the context of implementation of human rights standards. Representatives of legal aid providers presented their experiences in providing legal aid after recent legislative changes.

All participants of the round table, beside representative of the Ministry of Justice, pointed to inadequacy of existing legal aid system during the discussions and also to need for improvement. They expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice in the upcoming reform of the system.