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

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

Article 3 of the Convention. Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that, according to the eSpis system of the Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation, 34 cases were resolved under section 190(3) of the Criminal Act during the period from 2021 to 2024. However, the Committee notes that the Government does not specify the number of cases investigated or prosecuted or the number of convictions or penal sanctions imposed. The Committee requests the Government to clarify the outcomes of the 34 cases registered and to provide information on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions imposed under section 190(3) of the Criminal Actconcerning the use, procuring, or offering of children under the age of 18 for the production and trafficking of drugs.

Article 5. Monitoring Mechanisms. The Committee notes the Government’s information on monitoring mechanisms addressing child trafficking and exploitation, including: (1) operational actions (NUBES and NEMEZIDA) carried out by the Ministry of the Interior to detect online exploitation, identify victims, and prosecute perpetrators; (2) use of Interpol Child Abuse Image Database (ICSE); (3) specialized police training on digital crimes against children, including through EU programmes (CEPOL, EMPACT); and (4) the Red Button platform for public reporting on child exploitation.

The Committee further notes the Government’s reply to the questionnaire of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA questionnaire) for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings of 2023, that the National Referral System (NRS) provides a coordinated framework for the identification, assistance, and reintegration of trafficking victims, including two shelters, one dedicated to child victims (GRETA (2023) 11 page 76).

The Committee further notes that, according to the United Nations Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on its concluding observations of 11 September 2024, expressed its concern about the continued prevalence of trafficking in persons and the low number of convictions of the perpetrators (CCPR/C7HRV7CO7/4/para. 29). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the implementation and impact of the National Referral System and any other monitoring mechanisms to eliminate the trafficking of children under 18 years of age for labour and commercial sexual exploitation.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s information indicating that, in line with the implementation of the National Plan for Roma Inclusion 2021–2027, the General Police Directorate, in cooperation with relevant partners, has carried out preventive activities aimed at improving the integration and living conditions of members of the Roma national minority. It notes that educational documentary films produced by the Police Directorate have been used to raise awareness of child trafficking, exploitation, and empowerment, particularly oriented to Roma girls. The Committee further notes the adoption of the new National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings up to 2030 (National Plan) and its accompanying Action Plan for 2024–2026 (Official Gazette No. 127/4).

The Committee observes from the GRETA questionnaire that the National Plan aims to prevent human trafficking, improve the identification, assistance and protection system for victims, and strengthen regional and international cooperation (GRETA (2023) 11, page 5). It also notes that the National Plan includes preventive actions and public awareness campaigns of the new forms of online recruitment and new types of exploitation, with a special focus on women and children, including, awareness campaign organized for the fourth quarter of 2026 about human trafficking and cybersecurity that will be focused on women and girls as victims of trafficking (GRETA (2023) 11, page 12). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the National Plan for Roma Inclusion 2021–2027, and new plans or programmes to protect vulnerable Roma children from trafficking. It also requests information on the implementation of the National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings up to 2030 and its Action Plan for 2024–2026 regarding child trafficking for labour or sexual exploitation.

Article 7(2)(b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings up to 2030 provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary system focused on the rights and interests of trafficking victims, including early identification, access to healthcare, psychological, social and legal support, safe accommodation, and voluntary return.

The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that the Barnahus model (Children’s House), developed in collaboration with the European Union and the Council of Europe, is implemented in Croatia for the period 2023–2026. It observes that this model offers integrated services to prevent secondary victimization and to ensure timely and coordinated assistance. The Committee further notes that the Ministry of the Interior has proposed the creation of five regional centres across Croatia to provide this model to child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Committee observes from the GRETA questionnaire that, in 2023, of the 21 victims of human trafficking identified, 11 were minors (five girls and six boys) (GRETA (2023) 11, pages 86 and 87). It further notes that, in all cases, the police applied a programme of assistance and protection under the Protocol on the Identification, Assistance, and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking and that legal guardians were appointed for three child victims of trafficking in 2023 (GRETA (2023) 11, pages 90 and 91). The Committee welcomes the measures taken and requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to protect child victims of trafficking and exploitation. It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of child victims of trafficking under the age of 18 who have been identified, rehabilitated, and socially integrated.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Absconding and unaccompanied children. The Committee notes the Government’s information that it has adopted three protocols concerning unaccompanied children, including the 2018 Protocol on the Treatment of Children Separated from their Parents, which provides practical tools for assessment and protection, and mandates their application by all relevant actors within the protection system. The Government adds that the effective implementation of the Protocol requires additional training for professionals and strengthened oversight of its application.

The Committee also notes the Government’s information on the establishment of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Protection of Unaccompanied Children, responsible for evaluating the situation of unaccompanied children and strengthening institutional cooperation. It notes that the Commission met in 2023 to assess data, review the UNICEF Assessment of the Information Management System, and consider UNICEF’s recommendations for 2024, including revising accommodation contact points, promoting foster placements, and developing monitoring indicators.

The Committee further notes from the Government’s reference to the 2023 Report of the Ombudsperson for Children, indicating that 1,113 unaccompanied children were accommodated in shelters for applicants for international protection, and 374 in social welfare homes, compared to 329 and 107, respectively, in 2022. It further notes that, in 2023, the Ministry of the Interior handled 10,242 children during illegal border crossings, of whom 1,690 were unaccompanied. At the Reception Centre in Tovarnik, nine unaccompanied children were registered, while in the Reception Centre in Trill three unaccompanied children were transferred to community services. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the effective and time-bound measures taken or envisaged to ensure that unaccompanied children are protected from the worst forms of child labour.