ZAGREB, February 26, 2020 – Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman spoke at a UN meeting in Geneva on Tuesday about Croatian citizens missing from the 1990s war, saying it was their families’ human right to find out the truth which, he added, could also help reconciliation between peoples once at war.
Croatia is still tracing 1,871 persons gone missing in the 1991-95 war between Croatian forces and rebel local Serbs and the former Yugoslav People’s Army.
Speaking at the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Grlić Radman said shedding light on the fate of the missing was very important for Croatia. “That is of regional and global significance and also provides greater chances for lasting reconciliation between peoples.”
“That is the everyday life of hundreds of families in Croatia and that’s why we must show special interest and compassion. That’s our concern,” the minister said.
A photo exhibition by Sandra Simunovic called “Portraits of Sadness”, depicting disturbing stories about the Homeland War missing, was opened on the fringes of the meeting.
Grlić Radman also met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, extending his support to her work on the protection of human rights in the world.
“In today’s world, where international human rights and multilateralism are increasingly being violated, it’s important to support the high commissioner’s work,” he said.
The minister also took part in a disarmament conference at which he underlined the importance of effectively complying with all international and regional agreements on disarmament.
At the UN Human Rights Council meeting, he also pushed for strengthening the economic status of women, preventing poverty, including children’s, as well as social exclusion, and protecting children from violence.
More news about Croatia and the UN can be found in the Politics section.
