III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 17

Individual constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and rights may be curtailed during a state of war or any clear and present danger to the independence and unity of the Republic of Croatia or in the event of any natural disaster. Such curtailment shall be decided upon by the Croatian Parliament by a two-thirds majority of all representatives or, if the Croatian Parliament is unable to convene, by the President of the Republic.

The extent of such restrictions must be adequate to the nature of the threat, and may not result in the inequality of citizens with respect to race, colour, gender, language, religion, national or social origin.

Even in cases of clear and present danger to the existence of the state, no restrictions may be imposed upon the provisions of this Constitution stipulating the right to life, prohibition of torture, cruel or unusual treatment or punishment, and concerning the legal definitions of criminal offences and punishment, and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 22

Human liberty and personality shall be inviolable.

No one shall be deprived of liberty, nor may such liberty be restricted, except when specified by law, upon which a court shall decide .

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 24

No one may be arrested or detained without a written court order grounded in law. Such an order has to be read and presented to the person placed under arrest at the moment of said arrest.

The police authorities may arrest a person without a warrant when there is reasonable suspicion that such person has perpetrated a grave criminal offence as defined by law. Such person shall be promptly informed, in understandable terms, of the reasons for arrest and of his/her rights as stipulated by law.

Any person arrested or detained shall have the right to appeal before a court, which must forthwith decide on the legality of the arrest.

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 25

Any arrested and convicted person shall be accorded humane treatment, and the dignity of such individual shall be respected.

Whosoever is detained and indicted of a criminal offence shall have the right to be brought before a court within the minimum time specified by law and to be acquitted or convicted within the statutory term.

A detainee may be released on bail to defend him-/herself.

Whosoever is illegally deprived of liberty or convicted shall, in compliance with law, be entitled to indemnification and a public apology.

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 28

Everyone is presumed innocent and may not be held guilty of a criminal offence until such guilt is proven by a binding court judgment.

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 29

Everyone shall be entitled have his or her rights and obligations, or suspicion or accusation of a criminal offence decided upon fairly before a legally established, independent and impartial court within a reasonable period.

In the case of suspicion or accusation of a criminal offence, the suspected, accused or indicted person shall be entitled:

– to be informed in detail and in a language he/she understands, within the shortest possible term, of the nature and grounds for the charges against him/her and the evidence incriminating him/her,

– to have adequate time and opportunity to prepare his/her defence,

– to defence counsel and unrestricted communication therewith, and to be informed of this right,

– to mount his/her own defence independently or with the assistance of a defence counsel of his/her own choice, and if he/she lacks the resources to engage such counsel, to have free counsel provided under the conditions specified by law,

– to be present at his/her trial insofar as he/she is at the disposal of the court,

– to interrogate or to arrange for interrogation of witnesses for the prosecution and to demand the attendance and questioning of defence witnesses under the same conditions which apply to witnesses for the prosecution,

– to assistance by an interpreter free of charge insofar as he/she does not understand the language used in the court.

An admission of guilt may not be coerced from a suspected, accused or indicted individual.

Evidence obtained illegally may not be admitted in court proceedings.

Criminal proceedings may only be initiated before the court at the request of an authorized prosecutor.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

1. COMMON PROVISIONS

Article 17

Individual constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms and rights may be curtailed during a state of war or any clear and present danger to the independence and unity of the Republic of Croatia or in the event of any natural disaster. Such curtailment shall be decided upon by the Croatian Parliament by a two-thirds majority of all representatives or, if the Croatian Parliament is unable to convene, by the President of the Republic.

The extent of such restrictions must be adequate to the nature of the threat, and may not result in the inequality of citizens with respect to race, colour, gender, language, religion, national or social origin.

even in cases of clear and present danger to the existence of the State, no restrictions may be imposed upon the provisions of this Constitution stipulating the right to life, prohibition of torture, cruel or unusual treatment or punishment, and concerning the legal definitions of criminal offences and punishment, and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 22

Human liberty and personality shall be inviolable.

No one shall be deprived of liberty, nor may such liberty be restricted, except when specified by law, upon which a court shall decide.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 24

No one may be arrested or detained without a written court order grounded in law. Such an order has to be read and presented to the person placed under arrest at the moment of said arrest.

The police authorities may arrest a person without a warrant when there is reasonable suspicion that such person has perpetrated a grave criminal offence as defined by law. Such person shall be promptly informed, in understandable terms, of the reasons for arrest and of his/her rights as stipulated by law.

Any person arrested or detained shall have the right to appeal before a court, which must forthwith decide on the legality of the arrest.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 25

Any arrested and convicted person shall be accorded humane treatment, and the dignity of such individual shall be respected.

Whosoever is detained and indicted of a criminal offence shall have the right to be brought before a court within the minimum time specified by law and to be acquitted or convicted within the statutory term .

A detainee may be released on bail to defend him-/herself.

Whosoever is illegally deprived of liberty or convicted shall, in compliance with law, be entitled to indemnification and a public apology.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 27

The legal profession, as an autonomous and independent service, shall provide everyone with legal aid in compliance with law.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 28

Everyone is presumed innocent and may not be held guilty of a criminal offence until such guilt is proven by a binding court judgment.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

III. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

2. PERSONAL AND POLITICAL LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS

Article 29

Everyone shall be entitled have his or her rights and obligations, or suspicion or accusation of a criminal offence decided upon fairly before a legally established, independent and impartial court within a reasonable period.

In the case of suspicion or accusation of a criminal offence, the suspected, accused or indicted person shall be entitled:

– to be informed in detail and in a language he/she understands, within the shortest possible term, of the nature and grounds for the charges against him/her and the evidence incriminating him/her,

– to have adequate time and opportunity to prepare his/her defence,

– to defence counsel and unrestricted communication therewith, and to be informed of this right,

– to mount his/her own defence independently or with the assistance of a defence counsel of his/her own choice, and if he/she lacks the resources to engage such counsel, to have free counsel provided under the conditions specified by law,

– to be present at his/her trial insofar as he/she is at the disposal of the court,

– to interrogate or to arrange for interrogation of witnesses for the prosecution and to demand the attendance and questioning of defence witnesses under the same conditions which apply to witnesses for the prosecution,

– to assistance by an interpreter free of charge insofar as he/she does not understand the language used in the court.

An admission of guilt may not be coerced from a suspected, accused or indicted individual. Evidence obtained illegally may not be admitted in court proceedings.

Criminal proceedings may only be initiated before the court at the request of an authorized prosecutor.

Article 55
Rights of persons during an investigation
1. In respect of an investigation under this Statute, a person:
(a) Shall not be compelled to incriminate himself or herself or to confess guilt;
(b) Shall not be subjected to any form of coercion, duress or threat, to torture or to any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(c) Shall, if questioned in a language other than a language the person fully understands and speaks, have, free of any cost, the assistance of a competent interpreter and such translations as are necessary to meet the requirements of fairness; and
(d) Shall not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, and shall not be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established in this Statute.
2. Where there are grounds to believe that a person has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court and that person is about to be questioned either by the Prosecutor, or by national authorities pursuant to a request made under Part 9, that person shall also have the following rights of which he or she shall be informed prior to being questioned:
(a) To be informed, prior to being questioned, that there are grounds to believe that he or she has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court;
(b) To remain silent, without such silence being a consideration in the determination of guilt or innocence;
(c) To have legal assistance of the person's choosing, or, if the person does not have legal assistance, to have legal assistance assigned to him or her, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by the person in any such case if the person does not have sufficient means to pay for it; and
(d) To be questioned in the presence of counsel unless the person has voluntarily waived his or her right to counsel.

Article 63
Trial in the presence of the accused
1. The accused shall be present during the trial.
2. If the accused, being present before the Court, continues to disrupt the trial, the Trial Chamber may remove the accused and shall make provision for him or her to observe the trial and instruct counsel from outside the courtroom, through the use of communications technology, if required. Such measures shall be taken only in exceptional circumstances after other reasonable alternatives have proved inadequate, and only for such duration as is strictly required.

Article 66
Presumption of innocence
1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.
2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.
3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Article 67
Rights of the accused
1. In the determination of any charge, the accused shall be entitled to a public hearing, having regard to the provisions of this Statute, to a fair hearing conducted impartially, and to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:
(a) To be informed promptly and in detail of the nature, cause and content of the charge, in a language which the accused fully understands and speaks;
(b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence and to communicate freely with counsel of the accused's choosing in confidence;
(c) To be tried without undue delay;
(d) Subject to article 63, paragraph 2, to be present at the trial, to conduct the defence in person or through legal assistance of the accused's choosing, to be informed, if the accused does not have legal assistance, of this right and to have legal assistance assigned by the Court in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment if the accused lacks sufficient means to pay for it;
(e) To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him or her and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him or her. The accused shall also be entitled to raise defences and to present other evidence admissible under this Statute;
(f) To have, free of any cost, the assistance of a competent interpreter and such translations as are necessary to meet the requirements of fairness, if any of the proceedings of or documents presented to the Court are not in a language which the accused fully understands and speaks;
(g) Not to be compelled to testify or to confess guilt and to remain silent, without such silence being a consideration in the determination of guilt or innocence;
(h) To make an unsworn oral or written statement in his or her defence; and
(i) Not to have imposed on him or her any reversal of the burden of proof or any onus of rebuttal.
2. In addition to any other disclosure provided for in this Statute, the Prosecutor shall, as soon as practicable, disclose to the defence evidence in the Prosecutor's possession or control which he or she believes shows or tends to show the innocence of the accused, or to mitigate the guilt of the accused, or which may affect the credibility of prosecution evidence. In case of doubt as to the application of this paragraph, the Court shall decide.