UN closes Croatia human rights office, will carry on support for protecting civil liberties

As the United Nations human rights office in Zagreb prepares to close after successfully completing its work, the UN's top rights official today pledged continued support for Croatia.

Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his Office "will remain committed to further improving the human rights situation in Croatia and continue to assist the Government of Croatia in the implementation of its international human rights obligations."

"As its main legacy for the Croatian people, the office will leave behind the Human Rights Centre in Zagreb," he said. "The Centre will be an independent and autonomous institution serving as a meeting place and resource facility for government officials, academia, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and others to support and enhance activities related to the protection and promotion of human rights in Croatia."

Established in 1993, the Zagreb office will close at the end of this year.