Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2025, publiée 114ème session CIT (2026)

Convention (n° 182) sur les pires formes de travail des enfants, 1999 - Croatie (Ratification: 2001)

Article 7(2)(a) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Roma children. The Committee notes the Government’s information, in its report, on the implementation of the National Plan for Roma Inclusion 2021-2027 (NPRI) and its Action Plan for 2021 and 2022, which, in accordance with the NPRI, aim to reduce disparities between the Roma communities and the general population by improving access to inclusive education and implementing targeted measures to promote the completion of primary education and reduce drop-out rates.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, during the 2022–23 school year, a total of 6,690 Roma children were enrolled in the education system, including: 1,043 children (563 boys and 507 girls) in preschool education or programmes; 4,943 children (2,522 boys and 2,421 girls) in primary education; and 704 students (362 boys and 342 girls) in secondary education.

The Committee further notes the concern expressed by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), in its concluding observations of 10 March 2025, regarding low school attendance and high drop-out rates among Roma children at both primary and secondary levels, as well as the persistence of de facto segregation, particularly through so-called “Roma-only” classes in Medimurje County (E/C.12/HRV/CO/2, para. 50). It notes the concern raised by the United Nations Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in its concluding observations of 11 September 2024, regarding the segregation and high drop-out rates of Roma children in the education system (CCPR/C/HRV/CO/4, para. 15). While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee requests it to pursue its efforts to facilitate access to free basic education for Roma children, including through the effective implementation of the National Plan for Roma Inclusion 2021-2027. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, as well as updated statistics on attendance, completion, and drop-out rates at primary and lower-secondary levels for Roma children.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk.Children engaged in begging. The Committee notes the Government’s information that, according to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior, five cases on the offence of begging by juveniles (one boy and four girls) were reported in 2023, and 67 protective measures were proposed for the same period.

The Committee further notes the statement of the Ombudsperson for Children indicating that begging involving children remains a common occurrence in larger cities, particularly Zagreb. It also notes the concern raised by the Ombudsperson that the Ministry of the Interior no longer publishes disaggregated data on the number of cases regarding adults apprehended for begging with children. Considering that children living and working on the streets are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to intensify its efforts by taking effective and time-bound measures to protect children engaged in begging from the worst forms of child labour, and to provide for their rehabilitation and social integration. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of children removed from begging and benefiting from rehabilitation and social integration programmes.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.