Topic: Eliminating Racism
Country: Croatia
Delegate Name: Christine Elias
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Croatia position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
There will always be an issue of racism in any country that is developed. May it be racism of different culture groups within the country or discrimination against people for being a certain way, or of certain beliefs. The issue of eliminating racism is raised in front of the committee. Though every country would love to say that they are for eliminating racism, Croatia has gone through enough wars and diversity that it is almost impossible for them not to be acknowledged as a racist country.
Legally, Serbs living in present day Croatia as well as other minority groups in the same conditions have the right to the same protection of the more common ethnic and religious groups of Croatians. However, in reality, the Serbs undergo cruel discrimination in many different areas. As Croatia, religion is a huge aspect of people’s lives and it is a huge identification for individuals. It is also a way to “single them out for discriminatory practices.” “The Muslim community suffers from discrimination and Croatian Muslims and Bosnian refugees report widespread discrimination in many areas such as citizenship and employment rights.” As an outcome of this, many religious organizations automatically become the targets of violence occurring in the country. “In a March 1998 report, the Zagreb Jewish community said it had protested publicly and voiced complaints to the Croatian government and parliament regarding racist and antisemitic incidents, but without positive results.” Croatia has publicly announced it apologies for crimes that had been committed by the Croatian people during the Second World War. “The Croatian public then, during the Second World War, and today, including the Croatian government and me personally, have condemned the crimes that the Ustasa committed not only against Jews but also against democratic Croats and even against the members of other nations in the Independent State of Croatia.”
The people of Croatia have begun to understand the racism that takes place in their own country. To question it would be to question their beliefs and all that they suffered and sacrificed in order to become the independent state that they are. “The "Eliminating Racism Through Understanding" forum was held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.” Croatia has been accused of various racist crimes. However, a lot of these are very difficult to prove such a thing. No country wants to openly declare their love for racism. But when you have worked so hard on obtaining a country and rightfully making it your own, then Croats feel it necessary to have such views and to make their voice heard. A lot of the stuff that Croatia gets accused of has to deal with their sports. Croatia was told to have a deep-rooted problem after racist chants were said at Emile Heskey. Croatia has dealt with many other bigger problems then racism for them to worry about such a thing. Croats should stick to themselves and the matter of religion has always been a problem in any country. The issue of completely eliminating racism will not be solved as long as we have diversity and different beliefs.
