The SDF issued a statement on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, which is observed on December 10.
The statement said that society's sensibility to problems faced by vulnerable groups was constantly growing and that in general, hate speak in the media was being reduced.
The SDF cautioned, however, that there still existed examples of hate speak, dissemination of intolerance in the media and the public, and inequality of citizens before judicial and state bodies.
The SDF felt that Croatia had a good formal protection of national minorities' human rights, but that implementation lagged behind due to lack of political will and inertia of state institutions.
The statement read that European standards in human and minorities' rights protection should be encouraged, developed and implemented in practice.
The Forum said it was necessary to insist on objective media reporting, free of prejudices and sensationalism, and to promote social processes which encourage tolerance and public dialogue founded on the acknowledgement of human dignity, personal integrity, and social and professional status.