REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN MADE A STUDY VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

03-07.06.2024, ZAGREB, REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

A representative of the office of the Ombudsman - State Counselor, Mrs. Vaska Bajramovska Mustafa, along with twenty other representatives of other institutions from the Republic of North Macedonia, was part of the study visit to the Republic of Croatia. The visit was organized within the framework of the Council of Europe project "Quality Education for All", financed by the Federal Republic of Germany, in cooperation with the Network of Educational Policy Centers.

In addition to the representative of the Ombudsman, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Justice, government representatives, the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination and representatives of the local self-government from Bitola and Shtip participated in the Delegation. Principals and school teachers from these two municipalities also participated to exchange experiences from Croatian strategies for inclusive education, especially given the result of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Oršus and others against Croatia, which shares many similar characteristics with the case of Elmazova and others against North Macedonia.

A significant part of the visit was the meeting of the Delegation with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children of the Republic of Croatia. This meeting was an opportunity to explore the protection and promotion of children's rights in the educational framework, as well as to understand the role of the Ombudsman in dealing with educational inequalities and advocating for inclusive educational policies.

During the visit, the Delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia, where they were given a detailed presentation on Roma education in Croatia, highlighting the strategies and policies implemented to encourage inclusion and combat segregation. They also had a session with the Office of Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities to discuss the National Roma Inclusion Plan in Croatia, gaining valuable insights into the government's measures to overcome educational disparities and promote inclusion.

During the study visit, the participants, with the Croatian authorities and educators, exchanged important information on good practices for creating inclusive educational environments. This visit contributed significantly to ongoing efforts to improve educational practices in North Macedonia, particularly in response to the European Court of Human Rights ruling in Elmazova and others v. North Macedonia, which highlighted the segregation of Roma students.