Fostering Racial Equality and Diversity

2026-07-22

The project’s aim is to reduce racism, discrimination and other forms of intolerance based on racial or ethnic origin, colour and religion, including intersectional discrimination and to enhance the protection of groups, communities and individuals affected by racism, discrimination and intolerance. For achieving the aim, the consortium will implement a multi-dimensional approach for influencing public institutions in charge of policies for combating discrimination, supporting the work and role of actors providing direct assistance to (potential) victims of discrimination, facilitating their coordination and cooperation and addressing the root causes of racism and discrimination through prevention of negative stereotypes among the general public and its segments. The needs and problems addressed are: (1) Enforcement of AD legislation and implementation of AD policies in Croatia is ineffective. (2) Lack of education for developing and enhancing skills and knowledge on specific topics related to non-discrimination (esp. on racial or ethnic origin, colour and religion) for CSOs and ombuds institutions, stagnant cooperation, few networking opportunities, the lack of general knowledge on AD legislation and mechanism for protection among local actors. (3) Need for a holistic reporting system for racist incidents and racial discrimination. Specific objectives: (1) To raise effectiveness and advance enforcement of AD legislation and implementation of evidence-based AD policies in Croatia. (2) To empower and support the work and role of CSOs, ombuds institutions and local actors for protection, reporting and interest representation of victims of discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, colour and religion in Croatia. (3) To develop a data collection system for racist incidents and racial discrimination in Croatia, Ireland and the EU level. (4) To address negative stereotypes, prejudice and intolerance to prevent discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, skin colour and religion in Croatia, Ireland and the EU level. The primary target groups are: National minority councils, county coordination for human rights and CSOs providing direct assistance to potential victims of discrimination; CSOs advocating for national policies, ombuds institutions, legal experts and experts from other EU MSs whose work will be supported through specific advanced educations and exchange of knowledge and experience; national institutions responsible for the design and implementation of anti-discrimination legislation and policies; public and its segments, i.e. local communities, future teachers and journalists and academia and expert community. Results and short-term effects: (1) Reporting system for racist incidents and racial discrimination developed and used by the victims and witnesses; (2) A data-set on racism, xenophobia and discrimination and their root causes in Croatia collected; (3) Effectiveness of enforcement of AD legislation and implementation of AD policies in Croatia evaluated with a set of comprehensive measures for advancing design of AD policies; (4) A catalogue of policy measures (containing objectives, suggestions of activities to be implemented etc.); (5) Increased knowledge and awareness of EU and national AD legislation and reporting mechanisms of 75 national minority representatives and county coordination for human rights; (6) Increased knowledge and capacities of 30 CSO and public institutions representatives for combating discrimination and taking legal actions against discrimination in Croatia; (7) Strengthened cooperation and enhanced mutual learning between 45 CSOs and institutions at the national and EU level; (8) Raised awareness on discrimination and decreased level of negative stereotypes about racial, ethnic and religious minorities (including Roma, refugees, migrants, Muslim etc.) among at least 50 000 members of the general public in Croatia; (9) Increased knowledge and awareness of b

Croatia

2025-10-15