The survey, which was presented in Zagreb on Friday in the presence of the most senior judicial officials, was conducted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Croatia as part of its efforts to assist in the judicial reform.
The month-long survey covered 130 witnesses who in early 2007 testified in trials for the gravest crimes, such as murder, rape or war crimes, at nine county courts, as well as 110 county court judges from across the country.
UNDP officials say that there is a great need for an adequate system of witness support not only among witnesses, but also among judges, who often notice their problems, but do not know how to help them. The survey has also identified a great need for the training of persons working with victims and witnesses.
A state secretary at the Justice Ministry, Snjezana Bagic, said that state institutions had recognised the problem and were paying more attention to the needs of victims and other parties to criminal proceedings, notably the vulnerable ones.
The State Prosecutor's Office is cooperating in this matter with prosecutors' offices in the region, volunteers and the Justice Ministry's department for witness support and assistance, Chief State Prosecutor Mladen Bajic said.
Supreme Court President Branko Hrvatin said that the protection of victims and witnesses was a standard below which one would no longer be able to go.
Most importantly, court proceedings must be expedited to reduce possible pressure on witnesses, he said.
UNDP Resident Representative in Croatia Yuri Afanasiev said that the growing number of requests for an efficient judiciary put before the government an obligation of securing evidence on time, which in case of the gravest crimes most often depends on the readiness of victims and witnesses to testify.
It is necessary to ensure an integral system of support that can answer the needs of victims and witnesses and protect their basic rights, Afanasiev said.
In as much as 94.6 percent of cases, witnesses were not offered the possibility to contact a service or person to help them, although almost 70% said help would have been useful.
The survey shows that the most important need trial witnesses feel is the need for information on their rights, as well as legal advice, phycological and emotional support, and protection of security.
Judges covered by the survey said that the most important legal possibilities that victims are not being offered are the right to psychological and emotional support, free legal aid, and the right to get compensation for damage from the state.