The Documenta Centre for Dealing with the Past non-governmental organisation on Monday once again warned of the paradox that will occur when Croatia joins the European Union on July 1, when victims of violent crimes will have the right to compensation yet civilian victims of the war in Croatia will still not be eligible for compensation.
As of July 1, victims of various violent crimes in Croatia will be able to seek compensation from perpetrators or the state as long as they submit a request for such compensation within 6 months of the crime being committed, Documenta explained. This refers only to those violent crimes that will be committed after July 1 while victims of the war that occurred in Croatia twenty years ago have been excluded.
Documenta urges that the law on compensation for victims of violent crimes be expanded to include compensation for civilian victims of war.
The law was adopted based on the European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes which obliges European Union member states to secure compensation of damages for crimes committed with intent or murder.
