Problems faced by the families of disappeared and killed persons in the Homeland War were in the focus of the meeting Ombudswoman Lora Vidović held with representatives of the family members associations on 4th December 2017 in Vukovar.

At the beginning, the Ombudswoman presented the work of the institution with special emphasis on cases dealing with human rights of the Croatian Veterans, civil victims and as well as victims and witnesses in criminal procedures. During the two-hour talk, family members revealed their experiences relating to the search for the disappeared love ones and the war crime court proceedings. Problems they face reaffirm, amongst other, the need for establishment of a special department for the support of victims and witnesses within the state prosecutor’s office together with education and sensibilisation of court and police officials about their rights. It is necessary that Croatia intensifies cooperation with other states and judicial bodies in addressing issues of disappeared persons. This is already contained in the Ombudswoman’s recommendations in her 2016 Annual report.   

This meeting was organised by the president of the Alliance of Associations of Families of Imprisoned and Disappeared Croatian Veterans Katarina Alvir, with participation of members of the associations, Croatian Phoenix, Croatian Mother from Vinkovci, and Vukovar Mothers’.

The next meeting will be held in Petrinja next year.

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