Human rights protection is still a serious issue in Croatia, but it is not as dramatic as it was during and after the war. The material and psychological damage of war in all walks of life is slowly being repaired, with a focus on the rule of law, helping people regardless of religion and nationality, and the return of refugees to their homes, Croatian Ombudsman Ante Klaric told STA in an interview.
The war in Croatia has torn down one third of the country and a lot of its infrastructure, while hundreds of institutions have been completely destroyed, said Klaric. He finds that to be a huge transition problem, which is mirrored in high unemployment and distressed economy. A special issue is also the work of courts, he pointed out.

The most serious issue in Croatia, however, is still the return of refugees to their homes and return of their property. The Croatian Serbs are returning, but with difficulties, which is logical in Klaric's words, since such a process cannot be carried out over night, despite government programmes to find a solution.

Mostly the older generations of the Serbian minority are coming back to Croatia, although it is in the national interest to get back the young as well, the ombudsman pointed out.

The institution of ombudsman was established by the Croatian Constitution in 1990 to ensure citizen protection from mistakes, corruption, and unlawful actions of state administration.

Klaric is Croatia's second ombudsman, stepping into office in 1996, two years after the appointment of the first ombudsman.

The ombudsman's office is located in the capital of Zagreb, because there is not enough funds to set up branch offices elsewhere in the country, so sometimes the ombudsman does "fieldwork" among the population, explained Klaric.

As to political pressure on him, Klaric said that he has had no problems so far. There has been some disapproval, but the ombudsman has always been fully supported by the parliament, so the institution's work has always been normal, added Klaric.