Basic documents and regulations
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
The States Parties to the present Covenant, considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person, recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights
16.12.1966.
CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe, reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of justice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective political democracy and on the other by a common understanding and observance of the human rights upon which they depend, being resolved to take the first steps with this Convention for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
04.11.1950.
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia guarantees the right to free expression of opinions, exchange of information and the right to free association of citizens for the purpose of protection of their interests or for the promotion of their social, economic, political, national cultural or other convictions and objectives.
22.12.1990, Official Gazette no.: 56
THE ASSOCIATIONS ACT
The Associations Act regulates the establishment and activities of associations as the most numerous type of civil society organizations in Croatia. The act elaborates the right of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution to associate in any form of free and voluntary union of a number of natural or legal persons, for the purpose of protection of their interests or the promotion of their human rights and freedoms, and their ecological, humanitarian, informational, cultural, national, pro-natalist, educational, social, expert, sports, technical, medical, scientific or other convictions and objectives, without the intention of generating profit.
11.10.2001, Official Gazette no.: 88
THE ACT ON FOUNDATIONS AND FUNDS
The Act on Foundations and Funds stipulates the manner of establishment and functioning of a specific type of civil society organisation – foundations, which are properties assigned to serve by themselves, or through their generated income, serve to the accomplishment of some generally beneficial or charitable purpose.
01.06.1995, Official Gazette no.: 36
ACT ON AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT ON FOUNDATIONS AND FUNDS
This Law regulates the foundation, organization, activity and termination of foundations and funds, registration and termination of foreign foundations' representatives, i.e. funds, and supervision of their work.
16.07.2001, Official Gazette no.: 64
THE INSTITUTIONS ACT
The Institutions Act regulates the establishment and activities of institutions as organisations to permanently perform activities related to education, science, culture, information, sport, physical education, technical culture, child care, health care, social welfare, care for the disabled and other activities, provided they are not performed for the purpose of generating profit. An institution may be established by citizens as natural persons, thus it can belong to civil society organisations, while public institutions are mostly established by the State or regional and local self-government units.
16.08.1993, Official Gazette no.: 76
THE ACT ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
The Act on Humanitarian Assistance applies to associations, religious communities and other national and foreign non-profit legal persons, so-called “humanitarian organisations”, whose statutory objectives include the provision of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance, as defined by this Act, means collected material and financial goods, expert and lay psycho-social assistance (psychological help and help in social adaptation) and services provided for the socially handicapped under special regulations, services provided for the victims of natural and other catastrophes and individuals whose income does not exceed the level of the national poverty threshold.
10.06.2003, Official Gazette no.: 96
THE ACT ON THE CROATIAN RED CROSS
Croatian Red Cross is a national, humanitarian and voluntary alliance of the leagues of county Red Cross societies' associations and associations of town and municipal Red Cross societies acting based on the principles of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement enjoying a special protection and care of the Republic of Croatia. The task of the Croatian Red Cross is to achieve humanitarian goals and duties in the sphere of health care and improvement, social welfare, health and humanitarian education and it promotes the observance of international humanitarian law and human rights protection.
24.10.2001, Official Gazette no.: 92
THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT
Political parties are, with their free foundation and permanent activity in the formation of citizens' political will, an expression of democratic multiparty system, which is one of the highest values of the constitutional system of the Republic of Croatia. Wit the establishment of political parties citizens are guaranteed the right free association for the purpose of protecting their interests or promoting their political, social, economic, national, cultural or other convictions and objectives. Political parties, as defined by this Act, are associations whose objectives are expressed in their programme and statute, aimed at creating and forming citizens' political will and at political activity.
16.08.1993, Official Gazette no.: 76
THE FIRE BRIGADES ACT
Fire fighting activity is an expert and humanitarian activity of importance to the Republic of Croatia. This activity is performed by fire brigades, volunteer fire departments and fire-fighters’ associations as expert and humanitarian organizations, which have a right to relieves and benefits according to regulations and which are established, function and cease to function in compliance with the provisions of the act regulating the establishment and functioning of associations.
15.10. 1999, Official Gazette no.: 106
THE SPORTS ACT
In the Republic of Croatia the development of sports is stimulated by the construction and maintenance of sports facilities, education and training of professionals, scientific projects in the field of sports, economic measures, by stimulating partnerships of governmental and nongovernmental organizations in sports and private entrepreneurship, and financing sports from state funds, local and regional self-government units and the City of Zagreb funds. Sport has to be equally available to everyone, notwithstanding their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, social position, political or any other conviction.
28.06.2006, Official Gazette no.: 71
THE LABOUR LAW
This Law regulates labour relations in the Republic of Croatia, provided that some other law or international agreement that was concluded and authorized in compliance with the Constitution and then published, does not stipulate otherwise. The Labour Law is a general labour regulation stipulating fundamental employee rights and employer's obligations. On the labour market, associations are completely equal to other employers in all segments of labour regulations implementation and the implementation of other regulations defining employee rights and employers' obligations. The Labour Law, among other things, regulates the work of unions and employers’ associations.
08.06.1995. Official Gazette no.: 38
Presently, three employers' associations of a higher rank are registered in the Republic of Croatia, with the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship. These are Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Independent Employers' Associations Alliance (SNUP) and the Confederation of Croatian Industry and Entrepreneurs (KHIP). HUP is the only representative employers' association.
Croatian Employers' Association
Since the time of the Labour Law implementation and registration of unions' associations in accordance with the conditions stipulated by the Law, 23 unions' associations of higher rank have been established in the Republic of Croatia. The representativeness of unions' associations is defined by the Act on the Method of Determining Higher Rank Unions' Associations Participation in Tripartite Bodies at the National Level.
25.02.1999. Official Gazette no.: 19
There are 6 representative union head offices
1. Croatian Trade Union Association
2. Croatian Independent Unions
3. Croatian Independent Unions Alliance
4. Association of Croatian Workers' Unions
5. Trade Union of Services UNI-CRO
6. Central Association of Croatian Public and Civil Services Unions
- central webpage is not active
THE ACT ON LEGAL POSITION OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Church or other religious community under some other name is, for the purpose of this Act, defined as a community of natural persons practicing their freedom to denomination with the equal public performance of religious ceremonies and other demonstrations of their faith, entered in the Register of Religious Communities of the Republic of Croatia. Hence, the Act on Legal Position of Religious Communities does not explicitly define religious communities as non-profit legal persons acting in the interest of general good, but it still contains provisions implying that type of religious communities' activities.
16.07.2002, Official Gazette no.: 83
The States Parties to the present Covenant, considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, recognizing that these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person, recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights
16.12.1966.
CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe, reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of justice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective political democracy and on the other by a common understanding and observance of the human rights upon which they depend, being resolved to take the first steps with this Convention for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
04.11.1950.
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia guarantees the right to free expression of opinions, exchange of information and the right to free association of citizens for the purpose of protection of their interests or for the promotion of their social, economic, political, national cultural or other convictions and objectives.
22.12.1990, Official Gazette no.: 56
THE ASSOCIATIONS ACT
The Associations Act regulates the establishment and activities of associations as the most numerous type of civil society organizations in Croatia. The act elaborates the right of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution to associate in any form of free and voluntary union of a number of natural or legal persons, for the purpose of protection of their interests or the promotion of their human rights and freedoms, and their ecological, humanitarian, informational, cultural, national, pro-natalist, educational, social, expert, sports, technical, medical, scientific or other convictions and objectives, without the intention of generating profit.
11.10.2001, Official Gazette no.: 88
THE ACT ON FOUNDATIONS AND FUNDS
The Act on Foundations and Funds stipulates the manner of establishment and functioning of a specific type of civil society organisation – foundations, which are properties assigned to serve by themselves, or through their generated income, serve to the accomplishment of some generally beneficial or charitable purpose.
01.06.1995, Official Gazette no.: 36
ACT ON AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT ON FOUNDATIONS AND FUNDS
This Law regulates the foundation, organization, activity and termination of foundations and funds, registration and termination of foreign foundations' representatives, i.e. funds, and supervision of their work.
16.07.2001, Official Gazette no.: 64
THE INSTITUTIONS ACT
The Institutions Act regulates the establishment and activities of institutions as organisations to permanently perform activities related to education, science, culture, information, sport, physical education, technical culture, child care, health care, social welfare, care for the disabled and other activities, provided they are not performed for the purpose of generating profit. An institution may be established by citizens as natural persons, thus it can belong to civil society organisations, while public institutions are mostly established by the State or regional and local self-government units.
16.08.1993, Official Gazette no.: 76
THE ACT ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
The Act on Humanitarian Assistance applies to associations, religious communities and other national and foreign non-profit legal persons, so-called “humanitarian organisations”, whose statutory objectives include the provision of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance, as defined by this Act, means collected material and financial goods, expert and lay psycho-social assistance (psychological help and help in social adaptation) and services provided for the socially handicapped under special regulations, services provided for the victims of natural and other catastrophes and individuals whose income does not exceed the level of the national poverty threshold.
10.06.2003, Official Gazette no.: 96
THE ACT ON THE CROATIAN RED CROSS
Croatian Red Cross is a national, humanitarian and voluntary alliance of the leagues of county Red Cross societies' associations and associations of town and municipal Red Cross societies acting based on the principles of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement enjoying a special protection and care of the Republic of Croatia. The task of the Croatian Red Cross is to achieve humanitarian goals and duties in the sphere of health care and improvement, social welfare, health and humanitarian education and it promotes the observance of international humanitarian law and human rights protection.
24.10.2001, Official Gazette no.: 92
THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT
Political parties are, with their free foundation and permanent activity in the formation of citizens' political will, an expression of democratic multiparty system, which is one of the highest values of the constitutional system of the Republic of Croatia. Wit the establishment of political parties citizens are guaranteed the right free association for the purpose of protecting their interests or promoting their political, social, economic, national, cultural or other convictions and objectives. Political parties, as defined by this Act, are associations whose objectives are expressed in their programme and statute, aimed at creating and forming citizens' political will and at political activity.
16.08.1993, Official Gazette no.: 76
THE FIRE BRIGADES ACT
Fire fighting activity is an expert and humanitarian activity of importance to the Republic of Croatia. This activity is performed by fire brigades, volunteer fire departments and fire-fighters’ associations as expert and humanitarian organizations, which have a right to relieves and benefits according to regulations and which are established, function and cease to function in compliance with the provisions of the act regulating the establishment and functioning of associations.
15.10. 1999, Official Gazette no.: 106
THE SPORTS ACT
In the Republic of Croatia the development of sports is stimulated by the construction and maintenance of sports facilities, education and training of professionals, scientific projects in the field of sports, economic measures, by stimulating partnerships of governmental and nongovernmental organizations in sports and private entrepreneurship, and financing sports from state funds, local and regional self-government units and the City of Zagreb funds. Sport has to be equally available to everyone, notwithstanding their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, social position, political or any other conviction.
28.06.2006, Official Gazette no.: 71
THE LABOUR LAW
This Law regulates labour relations in the Republic of Croatia, provided that some other law or international agreement that was concluded and authorized in compliance with the Constitution and then published, does not stipulate otherwise. The Labour Law is a general labour regulation stipulating fundamental employee rights and employer's obligations. On the labour market, associations are completely equal to other employers in all segments of labour regulations implementation and the implementation of other regulations defining employee rights and employers' obligations. The Labour Law, among other things, regulates the work of unions and employers’ associations.
08.06.1995. Official Gazette no.: 38
Presently, three employers' associations of a higher rank are registered in the Republic of Croatia, with the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship. These are Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Independent Employers' Associations Alliance (SNUP) and the Confederation of Croatian Industry and Entrepreneurs (KHIP). HUP is the only representative employers' association.
Croatian Employers' Association
Since the time of the Labour Law implementation and registration of unions' associations in accordance with the conditions stipulated by the Law, 23 unions' associations of higher rank have been established in the Republic of Croatia. The representativeness of unions' associations is defined by the Act on the Method of Determining Higher Rank Unions' Associations Participation in Tripartite Bodies at the National Level.
25.02.1999. Official Gazette no.: 19
There are 6 representative union head offices
1. Croatian Trade Union Association
2. Croatian Independent Unions
3. Croatian Independent Unions Alliance
4. Association of Croatian Workers' Unions
5. Trade Union of Services UNI-CRO
6. Central Association of Croatian Public and Civil Services Unions
- central webpage is not active
THE ACT ON LEGAL POSITION OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Church or other religious community under some other name is, for the purpose of this Act, defined as a community of natural persons practicing their freedom to denomination with the equal public performance of religious ceremonies and other demonstrations of their faith, entered in the Register of Religious Communities of the Republic of Croatia. Hence, the Act on Legal Position of Religious Communities does not explicitly define religious communities as non-profit legal persons acting in the interest of general good, but it still contains provisions implying that type of religious communities' activities.
16.07.2002, Official Gazette no.: 83