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Description
The Center for the Integration of Foreigners in Sisak is the first model of comprehensive support to foreigners and provision of ongoing assistance through integrated legal, psychosocial and other services in one place. The Center will systematically work on international protection and legal assistance to foreigners throughout Croatia, in cooperation with the state institutions. Target beneficiaries are foreigners with unresolved status in the Republic of Croatia (Serb returnees, stateless persons / at risk of losing citizenship, Roma, applicants for international protection and persons with international protection, refugees resettled from Turkey through a resettlement program) who have so far been able to apply for comprehensive assistance in one place only in Zagreb.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (supported establishment of the project promoter) will be involved in promotion of international standards of human rights. Civic Initiative "My City of Sisak" will provide psychosocial assistance and participate in social inclusion activities in the local community. The City of Sisak contribute to sustainabiity with intzention to build a Center for Support of Vulnerable Groups in Sisak based on the results of this project.
Key activities include provision of legal and psychosocial assistance, education, empowerment and integration of beneficiaries (i.e. Croatian language courses, social inclusion activities), monitoring of legislation and initiating changes based on problems identified in the application of laws and regulations in practice, and raising awareness on the importance of the integration of foreigners, in cooperation with the Ombudsman.
In addition, the project will strengthen human rights associations to promote the rights of foreigners with unresolved status, address legal and social issues they face, and raise public awareness on discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin and religion, which applies to the most of foreigners.
Summary of project results
The Republic of Croatia has been a member of the EU since 2013 and has harmonized its legislation with the acquis communaiter of the EU, but the problem is in implementation. One of the biggest problems in solving the problem of foreigners is that they are located in different parts of the Republic of Croatia, while institutions and organizations are located in Zagreb. The general population in the Republic of Croatia and the relevant institutions in smaller and rural towns are not sensitized to the issue of foreigners, because they believe that the resident population also has problems. Sisak-Moslavina County has a long border with BiH and is exposed to migrants.
PGP has over 25,000 users with about 70,000 subjects in its database. Based on this and the experience in working on international protection, in the return process and in solving the legal problems of persons who do not have a regulated status in the Republic of Croatia, the PGP detected the problem of foreigners, which include migrants, refugees, seekers of international protection, persons without citizenship and at risk of losing it citizenship, citizens of third countries without settled status. All members of the target group have a problem with complex and long-term legal solutions. In contact with the mentioned persons, PGP concluded that they are left to their own devices in their everyday life, and various organizations visit and contact them occasionally. Unresolved status entails problems with the exercise of all other civil and human rights.
The following activities were carried out: Creation of prerequisites for the work of the Center and the opening of the Center, Provision of legal and psychosocial assistance; Monitoring of cases and judgments and decisions and noticing anomalies in the system; Developing a comprehensive communication model with public institutions for faster problem solving; Development of new proposals for better application of the law and improvement of the status of foreigners; Croatian language courses; Cooperation with local media, JLRS - social activities and social care and associations specifically for human rights; Organization of panel discussions on the topic of discrimination and the legal position of foreigners in the Republic of Croatia; public events and gatherings in the Center.
A Center for foreigners has been opened where legal and psychosocial assistance can be obtained.
In the Center were held four social gatherings with education on discrimination and integration and women''s rights, as well as other informal social gatherings.
In addition to the campaign to improve the system of free legal aid, two initiatives were launched, as well as four amendments to the law, amendments to one rulebook and one national plan.
We are especially proud of the Croatian language courses we have conducted for foreigners.
The Center for the Integration of Foreigners has become a place in Sisak where foreigners can freely turn to for help, advice and socializing. The Center is recognized as such, as a place for analysis, discussion and coordination of work with foreigners, not only in Sisak, the county, but also in the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia, because the national authorities are also involved in the Center''s work, as well as the Ombudsman, the Government Office for human rights and rights of national minorities, etc.
We are satisfied with the fact that the issue of foreigners has begun to be discussed at the national level. Among other things, the legal analysis and analysis of the situation of foreigners in the Republic of Croatia contributed to this, along with the most significant conclusions and recommendations.
Summary of bilateral results
Through cooperation, regular trainings and seminars organized by the partner organization European Stateless Network (ENS), PGP staff were regularly educated on international standards and the situation regarding stateless persons in Europe and the world. So in 2022, we educated ourselves on strategic litigation.