OSCE Mission to Croatia / OSCE Office in Zagreb (closed)

The initial tasks of the Mission to Croatia included to provide assistance and expertise to the Croatian authorities at all levels, as well as to interested individuals, groups and organizations, in the field of the protection of human rights and of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In that context and in order to promote reconciliation, the rule of law and conformity with the highest internationally recognized standards, the Mission was also to assist and advise on the full implementation of legislation and monitor the proper functioning and development of democratic institutions, processes and mechanisms.

In carrying out its tasks, the Mission was to co-operate with and use the expertise of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. It was also to co-operate with other international organizations and institutions, notably the Council of Europe, the European Community Monitor Mission, the Special Envoy for Regional Issues, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant NGOs.

The Mission was to offer close co-operation to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), in particular in regards to confidence-building and reconciliation, as well as the development of democratic institutions, processes and mechanisms at the municipal and district/county level.

The OSCE Office in Zagreb was tasked with the following elements:

• monitoring the proceedings related to cases referred to Croatia pursuant to Rule 11 bis of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence on behalf of the OSCE as well as on behalf of the Prosecutor of ICTY, in line with the PC Decision no. 673 dated 19 May 2005. The Office was also to monitor, as part of the national proceedings followed, all other cases involving ICTY transfers including so-called “Category II” cases as well as all domestic war crimes proceedings initiated at the local level; and
• reporting on the residual aspects of the implementation of the housing programmes in Croatia.