The majority of Croatian Parliament’s human rights committee members supported the suggestion from Iskorak and Kontra to introduce punishment for hate crimes into the changes of the criminal code. This would more severely punished those crimes inspired by hate, and set the minimum sentence for murder inspired by hate to ten years in prison. The HDZ representative abstained from voting on this bill.

Crime would be considered a hate crime if it is committed because of the person’s race, religion, nationality, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, political or other opinion, ancestry, age or other personal characteristics.

Kristijan Grdan from the legal team of Iskorak and Kontra said that these laws are in accordance with the advice from the European Union and OESS.

Legislators anonymously supported the initiative from child advocates which demanded that the changes to the Criminal Code contain increased penalties in order to protect children and minors.

Thus, a six-month jail sentence was set for individuals who endanger the welfare of a child by disclosing something from the child’s personal or family life, his photograph, or by exposing his identity in some other way. Another suggestion from the child advocate was accepted which would set the prison term from three months to three years for those who do not pay alimony in the amount decided by the courts or agreement.

Ministry representative did not comment on these suggestions. Representatives did not vote on the suggestions from female organisations to introduce a new criminal act – purchase of sexual services – because the changes to this part of the Criminal Code were not scheduled for this time.