VZCZCXYZ4793
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0182/01 0631015
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031015Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8648
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000182 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, EUR/PGI 
DEPT PASS USAID 
 
E.O. 12958:QN/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB HR
SUBJECT: ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
FOR CROATIA 
 
REF: STATE 2731 
 
Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Post is pleased to submit the Annual Anti- 
Trafficking in Persons Report for 2007.  Croatia has 
previously been ranked as a Tier Two country.  As 
detailed below, Post believes Croatia has made successful 
efforts to meet Tier One requirements under the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and Post strongly 
recommends raising Croatia to Tier One this year.  The 
Government of Croatia has proactively and consistently 
worked to address and combat trafficking in persons and 
has achieved all benchmarks established in annual USG TIP 
action plans. The Government of Croatia has demonstrated 
strong political will and responsiveness to every issue 
the USG has raised, in particular to intensify 
investigative efforts, resulting in an increased number 
of convicted traffickers. Through the passage of the New 
Law on Foreigners the GOC has continued to strengthen its 
legal framework while simultaneously ensuring the 
protection of foreign victims of TIP.  Croatia further 
strengthened the already institutionalized victim 
identification process and continued implementing 
professional training and public awareness campaigns. We 
are pleased with the efforts undertaken by the GOC to 
meet Tier One requirements. 
 
¶A. Croatia is primarily a transit country for women and 
girls trafficked to other parts of Europe for 
prostitution. To a lesser extent it is a destination and 
a country of origin for trafficked women. The trafficking 
route is primarily from Southeastern Europe through 
Croatia to the European Union. The government reported 
that 15 trafficking victims were identified in 2007; nine 
victims were Croatians, three were Serbians, two were 
Bosnians, and one was a citizen of Moldova.  One of the 
female victims was a minor from Bosnia.  Two of the male 
victims, one from Bosnia and one from Croatia, were held 
by labor traffickers. Since 2002, 69 victims have been 
identified (2002 ? eight victims, 2003 ? eight victims, 
2004 ? 19 victims, 2005 ? six victims, 2006 ? 13 victims, 
2007 ? 15 victims).  During the year the government 
reported that the victims cooperated with police 
investigations and NGOs. Recent trends indicated that 20- 
to 30-year-old women were most at risk of being 
trafficked. Anecdotal information indicated that 
transnational and domestic organized crime groups were 
responsible for trafficking. Victims were subject to 
violence, intimidation, withholding of documents, and 
threats by traffickers. 
 
¶B. The GOC did not report any significant route changes, 
however it did note that a new trend is that Croatia is 
increasingly becoming a country of origin. (Nine 
identified victims in 2007 were from Croatia.)  Croatia 
is principally a country of transit for victims coming 
from Southeastern Europe through Croatia to the European 
Union. The International Organization of Migration (IOM) 
reported continued seasonal rotation of international 
prostitutes from Bosnia to and from the Dalmatian Coast 
during the tourist season. (In 2007 the Croatian police 
reported routine monitoring and screening of this 
population group.) The GOC, which includes all relevant 
Government Ministries and the Government Office for Human 
Rights, and the Ministry of Interior, shows a strong 
political commitment and willingness to fight trafficking 
in persons. Anecdotal information indicated that 
international organized crime groups, local groups, and 
travel or marriage agencies were responsible for 
trafficking. Victims usually travel with legal documents, 
although some are falsified.  Unofficial sources indicate 
that trafficked victims are mostly recruited through 
fraud and promises of well-paying jobs abroad.  The 
methods of recruitment are numerous and diverse: 
abduction, extortion, false promises, fictitious 
marriages, bogus adoption agencies, seduction, the 
issuance of false certificates required for student 
visas, business offers, etc. Victims are subject to 
violence, intimidation, withholding of documents, and 
threats by traffickers.  The majority of victims, both 
foreign and national, reported poor living and working 
conditions and suffered physical and/or sexual abuse in 
 
the process of trafficking. 
 
¶C. The lead agency for monitoring anti-trafficking 
efforts is the Government Office of Human Rights; the 
head of which also serves as GOC Anti-Trafficking 
Coordinator. In addition, the Ministry of Interior, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, and 
Ministry of Justice are also actively involved in anti- 
trafficking efforts. 
 
¶D. There are no specific limitations on the government's 
ability to address the problem of trafficking in persons. 
Funding is more than adequate and the GOC budget 
dedicated for TIP activities in 2007 was 9,787,150 HRK 
(1.9 million USD). A backlog in the judicial system plus 
the lack of a Criminal TIP Provision prior to 2004 had 
previously hampered the GOC's ability to convict 
traffickers.  This changed, however, with the 2004 
adoption of the Criminal TIP Provision 175 in the 
Croatian Penal Code. Progress towards the reduction of 
judicial backlog has occurred. This factor, together with 
the high priority the GOC has attached to TIP, has 
resulted in a doubling of the number of convictions from 
the past year. (See Section 2) 
 
¶E. The GOC systematically monitors anti-trafficking 
efforts through its Anti-Trafficking Coordinator ? Head 
of the Office of Human Rights ? who is responsible for 
coordinating all GOC activities and developing an annual 
operation plan. The GOC's National Committee for the 
Suppression of Trafficking consists of members from 
relevant ministries, as well as representatives from the 
State Prosecutor's Office and NGOs.  The committee has a 
smaller working group, which includes representatives of 
NGOs, and meets regularly to discuss specific TIP cases 
and programs.  TIP-related information is made available 
publicly through the Office for Human Rights website, as 
well as via domestic and regional seminars. The GOC also 
cooperates closely with the Southeastern European 
Cooperative Initiative (SECI) and Interpol on 
investigations and prosecutions. 
 
¶2. (SBU) INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS: 
 
¶A. Croatia has a provision in the Penal Code which 
specifically prohibits trafficking in persons, both for 
sexual and non sexual purposes. The Criminal Provision 
175 in the Croatian penal Code ?titled Human Trafficking 
and Slavery? enacted in 2004 prescribes penalties for 
labor exploitation such as forced labor, bonded labor and 
involuntary servitude. In June of 2006 a paragraph was 
introduced in article 175 that allows prosecution of 
persons who knowingly use services of the trafficked 
victims, with sentences ranging from 3 months to 3 years. 
Apart from this TIP specific legislation, the Penal Code 
includes provisions providing penalties for related 
criminal acts such as international prostitution, illegal 
transfer of persons across the state border and 
pandering. In addition to criminal procedures against 
traffickers, victims can also initiate civil litigation 
against and request compensation from traffickers. 
 
¶B. Penalties for trafficking in persons provide for 
imprisonment from one to ten years. In cases where a TIP 
crime is committed against a minor the minimum sentence 
is five years. If the crime is committed within a 
criminal group or against a large number of people or 
cause the death of one or more persons, penalties provide 
for a minimum of five years to long term imprisonment. 
The minimum sentence for rape is three years, while 
penalties for rape and forcible sexual assault are 
generally as stringent as the penalties for trafficking 
for commercial sexual exploitation. The provisions in the 
Penal code cover both internal and external 
(transnational) forms of trafficking. 
 
During the reporting period 20 perpetrators of 
Trafficking in Persons were identified by authorities, 16 
of whom were Croatian citizens, three of whom were 
citizens of Bosnia, and one individual with no declared 
citizenship. In 2007 the GOC reported 10 persons were 
sentenced under TIP Provision 175, doubling the number of 
convictions from the previous year's report. Eight 
 
traffickers received final convictions and two 
traffickers have verdicts that are still pending final 
appeal. Out of the eight perpetrators with final 
convictions, two received suspended sentences and are 
currently serving four years parole and three years 
parole respectively. The six remaining traffickers 
convicted of TIP are all serving jail time, three 
defendants were convicted to one year and four months 
each, two people received one year convictions, and one 
person received a three year conviction. 
 
Under Croatian law, the courts can award compensation to 
victims under the criminal procedure. In cases where the 
criminal court does not provide compensation, the victim 
also has the legal right to pursue compensation under the 
Law on Civil Procedures. 
 
¶C. The prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking 
for labor exploitation such as bonded labor and 
involuntary servitude ranges between one and ten years in 
prison. These laws are applied externally as well. The 
law provides for criminal punishment for labor recruiters 
who engage in recruitment of laborers using knowingly 
fraudulent or deceptive officers that result in workers 
being trafficked. There are also laws punishing employers 
or labor agents who confiscate workers' passports or 
travel documents, switch contracts without the worker's 
consent as a means to keep the worker in a state of 
service, or withhold payment of salaries. Trafficking in 
Persons for the purposes of labor is typically prosecuted 
under Criminal Provision 175 of the Croatian Penal Code 
'titled Human Trafficking and Slavery', thus resulting in 
more stringent sentences.  In 2007 criminal charges were 
brought against two Croatian perpetrators for Labor 
Trafficking. Apart from the Criminal Provision 175, labor 
violations can also be prosecuted under the relevant 
Labor Law and the new Law on Foreigners, which came into 
effect in February 2008.  As legal "written contracts" 
between an employee and an employer are obligatory in 
Croatia, under applicable Labor Law the lack of a 
contract also can technically be considered a misdemeanor 
and fined up to 30,000 Kuna (6,122 USD). 
 
¶D. Penalties for rape and forcible sexual assault are 
generally as stringent as the penalties for trafficking 
for commercial sexual exploitation.  Sentences for rape 
range from 1-10 years, and have a minimum sentence of 3 
years if the crime results in the death of the victim. 
 
¶E. Prostitution is not legal in Croatia. Activities of 
prostitutes are treated as misdemeanors, while pandering 
is a criminal act. The activities of the brothel 
owner/operator, clients, pimps and enforcers are 
criminalized and the laws are generally enforced. 
Knowingly using the services of a TIP Victim is 
considered a crime in Croatia and is punishable with 
sentences ranging from 3 months to 3 years. 
 
¶F. In January 2008 the government reported that 15 
trafficking victims were identified in 2007; nine victims 
were Croatians, three were Serbians, two were Bosnians, 
and one was a citizen of Moldova. One of the victims was 
a minor. Since 2002, 69 victims have been identified. 
During the year the government reported that the victims 
cooperated with police investigations and NGOs. During 
2007 20 perpetrators of TIP were placed under 
investigation. 18 were under investigation for 
trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and 
two perpetrators were under investigation for labor 
trafficking. 
 
¶G. Throughout 2007 the government implemented educational 
workshops for its officials, including social workers, 
diplomatic and consular staff, judges, prosecutors, 
police, and students. During the year the Ministry of 
Interior trained a total of 1,254 police officers. Of the 
total number trained, 580 police officers were trained 
through various programs of the Police Academy. In 
cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) 40 
participants ? officers dealing with a wider range of 
criminal activities such as minor offenders, organized 
crime, sex crime and border police - were trained in two 
seminars. The goal of these trainings was to strengthen 
 
the team work of these agencies in combating trafficking 
in persons. Another 110 students were trained on TIP as 
part of undergraduate Studies in Criminology, and so were 
320 border police officers and 110 members of the traffic 
police. Apart from the aforementioned Police Academy 
programs, within the Ministry of Interior both the 
Criminal Police and the Border Administration, (in 
cooperation with relevant government?s agencies, civil 
society and international organizations) facilitated TIP 
educational training of 674 police officers. In 
cooperation with the Slovenian government a joint 
training for 26 police personnel was also organized in 
neighboring Slovenia. The Ministry of Interior also 
organized a three day interagency training with 
representatives of domestic NGOs and social services, the 
International Organization for Migration and the State's 
Attorney's Office. The training, which involved 50 
participants, was aimed at strengthening cooperation of 
the various agencies in the identification and protection 
of victims. 
 
Throughout the year, 50 investigative judges and 
prosecutors attended three regional seminars focused on 
suppression of TIP.  Croatian Consular Officers have 
received training for TIP screening as part of their visa 
issuance procedures. The government continued previously 
established efforts to educate diplomatic and consular 
staff about suppression of TIP as part of the Diplomatic 
Academy?s standard curriculum targeting 50 diplomatic and 
consular officials. In cooperation with the NGO 
Organization for Integrity and Prosperity (OIP) the 
government organized two seminars for 65 social workers 
and 54 professionals who work in family centers across 
Croatia. Ten members of the local government in 
Virovitica- Podravska County also received specialized 
TIP training targeting their specific county. The 
Ministry of Education and Science organized trainings for 
primary school teachers across Croatia. The Government in 
cooperation with the semi-autonomous Human Rights Center 
organized seminars on trafficking in persons for over 60 
University students from the Law faculty in Zagreb. In 
February the Government?s Human Rights Office organized 
the first training focusing solely on trafficking in 
persons for ten Croatian Military officers who will then 
instruct Croatian and foreign troops during their regular 
preparations for deployment abroad to participate in 
international peacekeeping missions. The Government 
Office of Human Rights arranged with the Ministry of 
Defense to include such trainings in bi-annual 
preparations for future peacekeepers who are already 
receiving basic information about TIP as a part of their 
UN approved curriculum. 
 
¶H. Throughout 2007, Croatia continued intensive regional 
cooperation efforts to investigate organizations believed 
to be involved in trafficking of human beings for sexual 
exploitation. Regional cooperative efforts remained very 
high. 
 
As part of the on-going 3,506,000 HRK (701,200 USD) EU 
Cards Twinning Project focusing on Trafficking in Human 
Beings, the Croatian police, in conjunction with the 
Government Office of Human Rights, Ministries of 
Interior, Health, Social Care and state prosecutors, 
participants from the German Foundation for International 
Legal Cooperation, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of 
Human Rights and the National TIP Coordinator, continued 
to cooperate with both short- and long-term TIP advisors 
from Germany and Austria. The fifteen-month-long project 
(03-30-2007 to 06-30-2008) is specifically designed to 
strengthen the capacity of national institutions across 
Croatia in combating TIP and to further assist the GOC in 
its EU wide efforts to protect the victims of trafficking 
in persons, paying special attention to children. In 
particular, this in-depth regional project has seven main 
components: 
-A complete review of existing legislation, structures, 
capacities and procedures to combat TIP. 
-Recommendations from both Germany and Austria. 
-Pilot testing of recommendations. 
-Further development of Standard Operating Procedures 
(SOPs) in TIP. 
-Development and implementation of a TIP training 
 
program. 
-A comprehensive and complete media campaign focusing on 
clients to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts. 
-Establishment of quality assurance system. 
The main fields of action of these seven areas are 
designed specifically to further influence Croatian 
criminal law, police measures, investigation methods, and 
assistance measures such as identification, protection of 
victims and victim support. 
 
Croatian police participated in an international 
investigation with Swiss police codenamed "Operation 
Blonde" that resulted in the identification of eight 
alleged perpetrators and seven trafficking victims. 
Police also cooperated with law enforcement officials in 
Slovenia and Serbia throughout the investigation. 
 
In March 2007 officers from the Organized Crime 
Department met with their Slovenian counterparts and 
civil society groups to discuss improving regional 
cooperation. 
 
The Interior Ministry reported active GOC and police 
participation on two regional International Center for 
Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) anti-trafficking 
projects focusing on trans-regional referral mechanisms 
and TIP data collection. 
 
Police also had an active role in the Mirage working 
group from the SECI regional center and reported strong 
cooperation with EUROPOL and Interpol in combating 
trafficking in persons. 
 
In one highly successful operation cooperative efforts of 
police and prosecutors from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and 
Montenegro resulted in the arrest of 25 persons in four 
countries. 
 
(SBU) FOR USG ONLY, NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Croatian police 
and prosecutors and a TIP task force advised by ICITAP 
and an EU Adviser from Spain, traveled to Serbia to 
discuss strategy and methodology with officials from both 
countries, compared essential witness statements and 
official records. In December 2007, as a result of a one- 
year investigation, 25 persons were arrested in four 
countries on charges to include the following: human 
trafficking, smuggling of persons, illegal possession of 
firearms, counterfeiting of passports and identification. 
One subject wanted for murder from a notorious organized 
crime group was also apprehended attempting to enter 
Croatia. Two trafficking victims were identified and 
assisted by the police and IOM, and the actual sale of 
one victim was prevented when a Croatian police officer 
intercepted a call that involved negotiations for the 
sale of a female victim. (Due to the on-going 
investigation, these details should not be made public.) 
 
In April 2007 Croatia took over the presidency of the 
Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI 
Regional Forum) in Skopje, where it has worked to pursue 
regional cooperation in combating TIP among the member 
states of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, 
Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Croatia participates in 
the Anti-Trafficking Unit at the OSCE in Vienna. Through 
its membership in the United Nation's Office on Drugs and 
Crime (UNODC) the Government of Croatia has actively 
worked on projects to promote the exchange of operational 
capacity to disrupt human trafficking in the Balkans. 
 
In February, 2008, in cooperation with 14 countries, 
Croatia ratified the Council of Europe's "Convention 
against Human Trafficking". The convention, ratified by 
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, 
Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Georgia, Malta, 
Moldova, Norway, Romania and Slovakia, reinforces the 
prevention of trafficking and is designed to strengthen 
the prosecution of traffickers and protect the human 
rights and dignity of the victims. In October 2007 
Croatia also signed the Council of Europe's Convention on 
the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation 
and Sexual Abuse. 
 
¶I. The Croatian Constitution prohibits extradition of its 
 
own nationals. Croatia had no requests for TIP 
extradition in 2007. 
 
¶J. There is no evidence of government?s involvement in 
trafficking on either local or institutional levels and 
there is no evidence of government?s tolerance of 
trafficking. 
 
¶K. Not applicable. There is no evidence of government 
officials being involved in any form of TIP crimes. 
 
¶L. There have been no occurrences of international 
peacekeepers from Croatia engaged in, or facilitating 
trafficking or exploiting victims of such trafficking. 
(See paragraph I in the Prevention Section.) 
 
¶M. The government has not identified child sex tourism as 
a problem, nor has it reported any prosecutions or 
extraditions of foreign pedophiles in 2007. Post does not 
believe child sex tourism is a problem in Croatia to 
date. The Croatian Penal Code contains provisions that 
punish pedophilia. Official statistics for pedophilia in 
2007 will not be made available until mid way through 
¶2008. In 2006, however, 129 verdicts against perpetrators 
of sexual crimes committed against children were passed. 
These cases, however, are not trafficking cases. Of the 
15 trafficking victims identified in 2007, one of the 
female victims was a minor from Bosnia. 
 
¶3. (SBU) PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
 
¶A. The new Law on Foreigners came into effect in Croatia 
on January 1, 2008. This law clearly defines the rights 
of foreign TIP victims, which was previously done via 
government instruction. The new law encompasses a number 
of aspects that will directly impact the fight against 
trafficking in persons. The law establishes a mandatory 
reflection period of 30 days for potential adult victims 
of TIP, and a 90 day reflection period for minor victims 
of TIP. The law specifies different forms of assistance 
which should be offered to foreign victims, including 
safe accommodation, financial support, education and 
training, and assistance with employment. The law further 
mandates that the Ministry of Interior will be 
responsible for future repatriation of TIP victims. (In 
practice, in many cases the victims are referred to the 
International Organization of Migration (IOM) who then 
works in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and 
the Border Police to ensure safe repatriation of the 
victim. In other cases, however, the Ministry of Interior 
has repatriated victims autonomously of the IOM or in 
conjunction with the Croatian Red Cross, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, or other NGOs.) Under the Law on 
Foreigners victims are to be provided with temporary and 
renewable residency permits, initially for a period 
ranging from six months to one year, which can be 
extended based on a subsequent needs assessment. 
 
A New Law on Social Assistance was adopted by the 
government and forwarded to the parliament for 
consideration, which further defines procedures and scope 
of assistance for domestic victims of trafficking in 
persons. A witness protection law provides for government 
protection when a witness' life, health, freedom, or 
property is threatened. In addition, Croatia ratified the 
Council of Europe "Convention against Human Trafficking", 
which further introduces a period of at least 30 days for 
recovery and reflection by the victims with the 
possibility of obtaining a temporary residence permit 
which is not subject to agreement by the victim to 
cooperate with law enforcement authorities. 
 
¶B. The Government of Croatia has two specifically 
designated TIP Shelters, one for adults and one for 
children, in addition to two alternative shelters that 
assist women of domestic violence and former prostitutes. 
During the reporting period, five victims were assisted 
through these facilities. TIP shelters are funded by the 
Ministry of Health and Social Care and run by NGOs. The 
Government of Croatia spent 408,000 HRK (82,424 USD) 
funding TIP shelters in 2007. Victims of trafficking are 
provided with legal, medical and psychological services. 
 
¶C. In 2007 the Government of Croatia provided 750,250 HRK 
(150,050 USD) to support NGOs directly involved in 
combating TIP. Another 140,000 HRK (28,000 USD) were 
provided via a grant to the NGO 'Women's Room' to conduct 
a study analyzing the scope of Trafficking in Persons in 
Croatia. An apartment was provided to the NGO 'Rosa' for 
the reintegration of prostitutes, and study visits to the 
Netherlands to examine the work of the National 
Rapporteur on TIP were provided to the coordinator of the 
Petra Women's Network as 'in-kind' assistance. 
 
¶D. Croatia has a national referral system employing 
'mobile teams' through which the victims are identified 
and referred for assistance. The GOC has protocols in 
place for identification and treatment of trafficked 
victims: 'Protocol on Detection and Care for Victims of 
trafficking in Persons', 'Instructions for Interviewing 
Illegal Migrants and Other Persons who are Suspected 
Victims of Trafficking' and 'Rules and Procedures in 
Shelters'. Special procedures (laws and protocols) are 
used for minor victims of trafficking. Border police and 
other police officers are instructed in all protocols. 
Social workers also have special instructions on how to 
recognize and treat victims of trafficking. A trained 
social worker has been appointed in each of Croatia's 21 
counties to assist TIP victims. 
 
¶E.  Not applicable. 
 
¶F. The rights of the victims were generally respected. 
Trafficking victims were neither detained nor jailed. 
Victims in Croatia are not prosecuted for violations of 
other laws such as those governing immigration or 
prostitution. The GOC did not deport or punish victims of 
trafficking. While the law criminalizes international 
prostitution and unauthorized (illegal) border crossings, 
it exempts trafficking victims from prosecution. 
Similarly, the law allows authorities to charge foreign 
prostitutes with a misdemeanor and initiate deportation 
proceedings if they do not fulfill legal requirements for 
their stay in Croatia, but exempts trafficking victims 
from deportation and detention. 
 
¶G. Regulation of victims? legal status in Croatia is not 
conditioned upon the victims? cooperation with the 
prosecution. TIP victims are entitled to file both civil 
and criminal lawsuits. In addition, according to the 
Croatian legislation, victims have the right to press 
charges themselves and may continue to prosecute a case 
that has been dropped by the State Prosecutor. 
 
¶H. Victims of trafficking are provided with legal, 
medical and psychological services. In the reporting 
period Croatia assisted 15 victims of and offered 
assistance: legal, social and medical to all of them. Out 
of 15 victims, five accepted accommodation in shelters. 
Other victims expressed their willingness to return to 
their place of residence. Before the victims returned to 
their places of origin, they were placed in reception 
centers, and minor victims received temporary assistance 
through the social welfare system. One NGO (Organization 
for integrity and Prosperity, or OIP) runs a shelter for 
victims that are funded by the GOC. Three NGOs run the 
SOS helpline (OIP, Rosa, Women?s Association Vukovar) and 
two NGOs (Korak and Rosa)provide for victims assistance 
offering alternative accommodation. The Croatian Red 
Cross operates temporary reception centers for TIP and a 
shelter for adult victims of TIP. 
 
¶I. Croatia has a national referral system, employing 
"mobile teams", through which victims are identified and 
referred to assistance. The GOC has protocols in place 
for the identification and treatment of trafficking 
victims: 'Protocol on Detection and Care for Victims of 
Trafficking in Persons', 'Instructions for Interviewing 
Illegal Migrants and Other Persons Who are Suspected 
Victims of Trafficking' and 'Rules and Procedures in 
Shelters'. Special procedures (Laws and Protocols) are 
used for minor victims of trafficking. Border police and 
other police officers are instructed in all protocols 
through a standardized curriculum at the police academy. 
Social workers have special instructions on how to 
recognize and treat victims of trafficking. In addition, 
 
social workers have been appointed in each county to deal 
specifically with TIP victims who are minors. Consular 
officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also 
received intensive TIP training. 
 
¶J. The government provides assistance, such as medical 
aid, shelter, or financial help to its nationals who are 
repatriated as victims of trafficking. 
 
¶K. Assistance to victims of trafficking is being offered 
in cooperation with Croatian Government officials by the 
following organizations: Red Cross, International 
Organization for Migration (IOM), Organization for 
Integrity and Prosperity (OIP), Rosa, Korak,  and Women's 
Association of Vukovar. NGOs reported excellent 
cooperation with the Government Office for Human Rights, 
Ministry of Interior and local police officers. One NGO 
(Organization for Integrity and Prosperity (OIP) runs a 
shelter for victims that is funded by the GOC and IOM. 
Three NGOs run the SOS helpline for victims (OIP, ROSA, 
Women's Association of Vukovar), and two NGOs (Korak and 
Rosa) provide for victim's assistance, offering 
alternative accommodation. The Croatian Red Cross 
operates temporary reception centers for TIP victims and 
a shelter for adult victims of TIP. In 2007 750,250 HRK 
(150,050 USD) was given by the Government directly to 
support TIP centered NGOs. 282,000 HRK (56,400 USD) was 
specifically reserved for TIP victim assistance shelters 
(5 victims utilized these shelters in 2007), and 430,250 
HRK (86,050 USD) was used for public awareness campaigns. 
 
¶4. (SBU) PREVENTION 
 
¶A. The government of Croatia recognizes trafficking as a 
problem in the country and takes proactive measures to 
combat TIP through a strong legal framework, 
investigation and prosecution of traffickers, protection 
and assistance to victims, and active promotion of wide 
spread prevention efforts. 
 
¶B. In 2007 there have been numerous high profile 
government-run anti-trafficking information or 
educational campaigns. As part of the EU Cards Twining 
Project, post is particularly encouraged by a nation wide 
demand reduction media campaign targeting clients that is 
currently in its final stages prior to release, with 
endorsements by a major public sport figure to air in 
April and May prior to the Euro-Soccer Cup. This campaign 
will encompass TV spots and radio ads, and is being 
developed in conjunction with NGOs to utilize regional 
contacts. The theme is "This could be your sister, 
mother, aunt, daughter" and 25,000 Euro (37,250 USD) has 
been specifically reserved by the GOC for this public 
awareness campaign targeting the men or clients. (See 
Section 2 -Investigation and Prosecution of Traffickers, 
paragraph H) 
 
As in previous years, the GOC continued to air two high 
quality TIP TV spots airing on both national and local TV 
stations around the country. Ads have been placed on 
trams and at train stations, and billboards that 
advertise the government sponsored help line have been 
placed around the country. In October, Croatia 
commemorated the first annual EU Anti-Trafficking Day 
with information booths, cultural events, posters, 
flyers, and brochures designed to raise public awareness 
of TIP across Croatia. The GOC sponsored an anti- 
trafficking movie night at Zagreb based cinemas with free 
admission to the public at large. The GOC, in conjunction 
with Care International and several NGOs, produced and 
distributed the documentary film 'Price of Life' 
nationwide to schools, cinemas, aired the movie on 
national TV and distributed it to four local TV stations 
across the country. While impossible to quantify the 
exact number of viewers reached, the movie had over 54 
showings across the country. T-shirts, posters and flyers 
were also distributed to promote anti-trafficking 
campaigns. In addition, as part of its anti-trafficking 
information campaign, flyers have been posted at 
airports, border and checkpoints along roads in four 
languages (Croatian, Macedonian, Romanian, and 
Ukrainian)to raise public awareness. Croatia further 
commemorated the International Day for the Abolition of 
 
Slavery on December 2nd.  (See paragraph I Section - 
Protection and Assistance to Victims for further 
information on prevention campaigns and trainings.) 
 
¶C. The government, the IOM (International Organization 
for Migration), and NGOs organized numerous and 
widespread Tip related trainings (see section 2, 
paragraph g) and all the above reported that cooperation 
was strong. 
 
¶D. Instructions for interviewing illegal migrants and 
other persons who are suspected victims of trafficking 
are routinely used by border and immigration police and 
other police officers to screen potential trafficking 
victims along the borders. Croatian Consular Officers 
have received training for TIP screening as part of their 
visa issuance procedures. In addition, the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM), Ministry of Interior, 
and the British Government have produced and distributed 
a user friendly brochure and checklist specifically 
designed for Border Police to recognize the different 
indicators of smuggling vs. trafficking in persons. (This 
was a part of the project under which 27 specially 
trained border police officers trained another 493 of 
their colleagues to detect potential victims.) All border 
police in the country have been provided with a copy of 
this checklist. 
 
¶E. The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also responsible for 
social affairs and human rights, acts as the chairperson 
of the National Committee for Suppression of Trafficking 
reflecting the high level of attention that the 
government pays to combating against trafficking in 
persons. The head of the Government Office of Human 
Rights is the point of contact that that coordinates all 
GOC activities and develops an annual operational plan. 
GOC?s National Committee for Suppression of Trafficking 
consisting of members from relevant ministries that meet 
periodically. The Government of Croatia has a public 
corruption task force and a National Program for 
Suppression of Corruption. 
 
¶F. The head of the office of Human Rights is the point of 
contact that coordinates all GOC activities and develops 
an annual TIP operational plan. The GOC?s National 
Committee for Suppression of Trafficking consists of 
members from relevant ministries and NGOs and meets 
periodically. The National Committee for Suppression of 
Trafficking is responsible for drafting the National 
Action Plan for Combating TIP. In addition, the National 
Committee has an operational team that meets monthly to 
assess the current status of TIP in Croatia. The GOC has 
a National Program for Combating Trafficking in Persons 
which includes a strategic document covering years 2005- 
2008; Operational Plan for 2005, 2006 and 2007; and a 
National Plan for Suppression of trafficking in Children 
for 2005-2007. 
 
¶G. See section on 'Prevention', paragraph b. and section 
on 'Investigation and Prosecution of Traffickers', 
paragraph H. 
 
¶H. Not applicable 
 
¶I. To date there have been no occurrences of 
international peacekeepers from Croatia engaged in, or 
facilitating trafficking or exploiting victims of such 
trafficking. In February 2008, the GOC organized initial 
training sessions for 10 military officers to serve as 
anti-TIP troop trainers. Following the completion of 
initial training, these military officers will begin to 
implement obligatory training for all international 
peacekeeping forces being stationed abroad. This anti-TIP 
education will be incorporated into the standard 
curriculum of all military troops preparing for 
deployment abroad. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Points of Contact 
 
¶A. Embassy points of contact are Political Officer 
Douglas A. Fisk Phone: 385-1-661-2341, fax: 385-1-661- 
2147 and Political Assistant Metka Jelenc Phone: 385-1- 
661-2353. In preparing the report, 04 PolOff spent 
 
approximately 30 hours and Pol Assistant spent 
approximately 20 hours. 
 
Bradtke