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Self Report 2017

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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1B
Act early

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to act early upon potential conflict situations based on early warning findings and shared conflict analysis, in accordance with international law.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to make successful conflict prevention visible by capturing, consolidating and sharing good practices and lessons learnt.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia has developed its own national set of good practices and lessons learnt in complex and lengthy post-war stabilisation and reconciliation processes. Even though every crisis has its own specific root causes and actors, we believe that we can learn from each other's experiences and expert exchanges.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Croatian MFEA together with the Institute for Development and International relations in Croatia (IRMO) has launched the publication of a Catalogue of Experiences in Democratic Transition and Establishing of a Framework and Conditions for Post-War Reconciliation. The draft has been finalised and is expected to be published by the end of 2017. In that respect, we shared experinces with Ukraine on peaceful reintegration of territories. We delivered a set of books to Egypt and Morocco on the Croatian Homeland War for research purposes on the root causes.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Through Annual Report on Development Cooperationa and Humanitarian Assistance, assembled by the MFEA.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Difficulty in capturing and consolidating good practices in an inclusive manner due to sensitive political climate in post-conflict societies, taking all relevant stakeholders' experiences into account. Challenge in identifying best channels for sharing such good practices, such as bilateral contacts and global platforms like UNOSSC.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Finalising the Catalogue and making it available to our humanitarian and development partners.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Act early', what would it be

    We must strengthen yet simplify cooperation between humanitarian, development and security actors.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Accountability to affected people ☑ People-centred approach

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑1C - Remain engaged and invest in stability ☑ 1D - Develop solutions with and for people

1C
Remain engaged and invest in stability

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to improve prevention and peaceful resolution capacities at the national, regional and international level improving the ability to work on multiple crises simultaneously.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to sustain political leadership and engagement through all stages of a crisis to prevent the emergence or relapse into conflict.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
  • Commit to address root causes of conflict and work to reduce fragility by investing in the development of inclusive, peaceful societies.
  • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia's National Strategy for Development Cooperation 2017-2021 that includes Humanitarian Assistance (to be adopted in the first half of 2017), puts these commitments at the top of its agenda. We are facing a growing number of protracted humanitarian crises because of a failure to find political solutions to man-made crisis. Understanding the root causes of conflict through research of cultural, religious, historic, political and socio-economic context is a key to prevention of future relapse into conflict through the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. We are motivated to share Croatia's first-hand experience in post-war successful stabilization with our humanitarian and development partners.

  • Achievements at a glance

    The new National Strategy is expected to be adopted by the first half of 2017. Croatia is developing the national catalogue of transition experiences, starting with the successful reconciliation as a prevention tool.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Along with the National Strategy, the Implementation Plan will follow with its progress reports.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Remain engaged and invest in stability', what would it be

    The only way forward is enhanced cooperation and coordination between our humanitarian, development and security actors.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑People-centred approach ☑ Religious engagement

  • Specific initiatives

    ☑Commitment to Action: Transcending the humanitarian - development divide ☑ New Way of Working

2A
Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    As a country which was affected by war, Croatia understands the consequences which emanate from exposure to explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the implications it has both on the population and the economy itself. This unfortunate position has lead us to develop tools to disseminate this information to all population groups.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Through the implementation of projects, Croatia has been sharing this knowledge with other countries, which are in a similar position as Croatia once was, such as Ukraine, Syrian refugees in Jordan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Colombia.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Through monitoring reports of specific outputs of project activities as well as through multiplier effects of Train-the-Trainer models implemented after project completion.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Coordination with other donors, commitment and cooperation from other stakeholders, and insufficient financial resources available.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Enhance dialogue with partner governments on this issue and address potential problems that may arise if this issue is not addressed on time.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑People-centred approach

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4A - Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

2B
Ensure full access to and protection of the humanitarian and medical missions

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to ensure all populations in need receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Commit to promote and enhance efforts to respect and protect medical personnel, transports and facilities, as well as humanitarian relief personnel and assets against attacks, threats or other violent acts.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia advocates at all levels and by all means of communication that all populations in need must receive rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, which means also protection of humanitarian workers who deliver it.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Croatia delivered quick and direct assistance from government to government to Macedonia after the floods in 2016.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Annual implementation reports of the National Strategy.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Quick coordination with affected States both during the crisis but also afterwards in the monitoring and evaluation phase.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Simplify and speed the administrative procedure from proposal to implementation.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction ☑ Humanitarian principles

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑5B - Invest according to risk

2C
Speak out on violations

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    The situation in the world has an impact on Croatian foreign policy. As a country which had for 10 years the status of an observer in the HRC, we actively participated in the discussion of the situation of human rights in concerned countries (serious human rights violations) and co-sponsored country resolutions that condemned these situations. Furthermore, Croatia has been taking part in the inter-active dialogue with special rapporteurs for HR for the countries that were under the scrutiny of the Council as well was being proactive within the UPR through its statements and proposed recommendations.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Based on its activity, Croatia was recognised as a true human rights defender when it was elected to the HRC.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Progress will be measured in 2017 based on HRC membership.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Unknown

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Will be detailed in 2017.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

2D
Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts, including through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
  • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    During 2016, as a candidate country for the Human Rights Council, Croatia intensified its foreign activities in the area of human rights with the aim to promote its human rights priorities, such as protection of most vulnerable groups especially children and persons with disabilities, combating hate crime and hate speech. In addition on the humanitarian fora, emphasis was placed on humanitarian principles and humanitarian law.

  • Achievements at a glance

    The achievement was Croatia's full membership to the Human Rights Council and opportunity to further widen its' priorities in the human rights arena in accordance with the new Government's position, which will be reported in 2017.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    Having said the above, progress will be assessed in 2017.

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Croatia, as a new member of the Human Rights Council, will be more visible in taking the initiative in the Council, especially bearing in mind that the Council will do more in the protection of the religious minorities and especially Christians in the countries where those religious groups are not protected. We will also support all initiatives with regard to the protection of families.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disability ☑ Humanitarian principles ☑ Religious engagement

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑2A - Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

2E
Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia promotes at all fora the full respect of international humanitarian law, human rights law, refugee law and preservation of humanitarian principles, with particular emphasis on impunity.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Humanitarian principles

3D
Empower and protect women and girls

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome documents of their review conferences for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
  • Leave No One Behind
  • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
  • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    As stated in the National Strategy on Development Cooperation 2017-2021 (to be adopted in the 1st half of 2017), Croatia is focused on women and girl's protection and empowerment, seeing women as powerful agents for change.

  • Achievements at a glance

    Construction of the Medical Center for Midwives Training in Afghanistan completed, in partnership with the Afghan government.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Learning how to make humanitarian assistance truly gender responsive and even gender transformative.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Empower and protect women and girls', what would it be

    Sharing best practices in making humanitarian assistance gender transformative for the society.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Gender

4A
Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia is consistently working on reducing disaster risk systematically and comprehensively through both institutional and individual commitment. By the end of 2015 Croatia adopted the first National Disaster Risk Assessment and we have been working on both raising individual preparedness and professional’s preparedness to respond to disasters.

  • Achievements at a glance

    After producing our first National Disaster Risk Assessment, which was our ex-ante conditionality for using structural and cohesion funds allocated for disaster risk reduction, we were committed to local level risk assessments guidelines. All relevant institutions in Croatia have been involved in producing the first National Disaster Risk Assessment with sectoral commitments per risk and will continue to work together on the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy in the same manner and as members of the Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The DRR Strategy will further emphasize the need to focus on the biggest risks in Croatia as well as commit certain bodies to take action and responsibility in doing so and in cooperating. There is great institutional commitment to cooperation of the DRR and climate change adaptation responsible bodies through this process and through the ongoing process of producing the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    By documents adopted, reorganisation of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, continuous cooperation with other institutions and increased attention to and knowledge of DRR in sectors other than disaster management sector. Successful
    exercises conducted and actual activities in disaster response successfully fulfilled.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Will to cooperate, finance, political will to prioritise DRR

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, local level risk assessments, raising awareness strategy, exercises.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems', what would it be

    A practical and all-inclusive DRR Strategy.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction ☑ Social protection

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises ☑ 5B - Invest according to risk

5B
Invest according to risk

Core Commitment

  • Commitment
  • Core Responsibility
  • Commit to accelerate the reduction of disaster and climate-related risks through the coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, as well as other relevant strategies and programs of action, including the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.
  • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity

  • What led your organization to make the commitment?

    Croatia is consistently working on reducing disaster risk systematically and comprehensively through both institutional and individual commitment. By the end of 2015 Croatia adopted the first National Disaster Risk Assessment and we have been working on both raising individual preparedness and professional’s preparedness to respond to disasters.

  • Achievements at a glance

    After producing our first National Disaster Risk Assessment, which was our ex-ante conditionality for using structural and cohesion funds allocated for disaster risk reduction, we were committed to local level risk assessments guidelines. All relevant institutions in Croatia have been involved in producing the first National Disaster Risk Assessment with sectoral commitments per risk and will continue to work together on the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy in the same manner and as members of the Croatian Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The DRR Strategy will further emphasize the need to focus on the biggest risks in Croatia as well as commit certain bodies to take action and responsibility in doing so and in cooperating.
    There is great institutional commitment to cooperation of the DRR and climate change adaptation responsible bodies through this process and through the ongoing process of producing the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

  • How is your organization assessing progress

    By documents adopted, reorganisation of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, continuous cooperation with other institutions and increased attention to and knowledge of DRR in sectors other than disaster management sector. Successful exercises conducted and actual activities in disaster response successfully fulfilled.

  • Challenges faced in implementation

    Will to cooperate, finance, political will to prioritise DRR

  • Next step to advance implementation in 2017

    Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, local level risk assessments, raising awareness strategy, exercises.

  • If you had one message for the annual report on what is most needed to advance the transformation 'Invest according to risk', what would it be

    A practical and all-inclusive DRR Strategy.

  • Cross cutting issues

    ☑Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Other related Agenda for Humanity transformations

    ☑4B - Anticipate, do not wait, for crises