A handbook for the civil society on the implementation of anti-discrimination legislation was presented.
In estimating the impact of regulations, it is necessary to consider human rights and protection from discrimination, raise awareness of the importance of those issues in state institutions and agencies, inform the public about discrimination and the rights which citizens have and should enjoy, and improve the cooperation of public institutions and civil society organisations, it was concluded.
The panel was held as part of a project for strengthening the capacities of civil society through training and the establishment of an equality forum. The project is being implemented by the Equal Rights Trust from Great Britain, HOMO from Pula and the Croatian Law Centre from Zagreb.
The panel analysed the implementation of the law on the prevention of discrimination which Croatia passed in 2009. Jim Fitzgerald of the Equal Rights Trust said Croatia passed the law as a requirement to join the European Union and that its adoption was the beginning and not the end of the process.
The anti-discrimination law must be applied effectively, which can make Croatia one of the leading EU countries, he said.
Today's panel is a call on the government to take the anti-discrimination law off the shelf and make it an important, integral part of the administrative and legislative framework, he said.
We invited the government to pay attention to equality and protection from discrimination when passing new laws and estimating their impact, said Fitzgerald.