government: presidential/parliamentary democracy
state of civil and political rights: Free
constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001
legal system: based on Austro-Hungarian law system with Communist law influences
legislative system: unicameral Assembly (Sabor)
judicial system: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly
religion: Roman Catholic 86.3%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.5%
death row:
year of last executions: 0-0-0
death sentences: 0
executions: 0
international treaties on human rights and the death penalty:International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1st Optional Protocol to the Covenant
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
6th Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (concerning the abolition of the death penalty)
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
Statute of the International Criminal Court (which excludes the death penalty)
situation:
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990. The Croatian Constitution at Art. 21 states: "Every human being shall have the right to life. In the Republic of Croatia there shall be no death penalty." Art. 17 sub sect. 3 establishes that Constitutional provisions regarding the right to life are not among those provisions that can be suspended by the Parliament in wartime, or in case of serious danger for the country.
Croatia abolished the death penalty while it was still a member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It became independent in 1991. On February 3, 2003 Croatia deposited with the Council of Europe the instrument of ratification of Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances.
On 19 Decembr 2016, as in previous years, Croatia co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.
On 29 September 2017, Croatia voted in favour of the Resolution on the Death Penalty at the 36° session of the UN Council on Human Rights
