Croatia

Following the armed conflict between Croatia and the Yugoslav People’s Army in 1991–95 – often referred to as the Homeland War or the War of Independence – the political and security situation in Croatia has remained stable. Despite some periods of increased armed violence and the widespread proliferation of small arms and light weapons during the post-conflict period, the country generally records low levels of crime compared to the European average.¹

In terms of weapons and ammunition management, in 2005 Croatia established a National Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons and other related mechanisms for small arms and light weapons control and disarmament activities. In response to increasing rates of armed violence in the early 2000s, the country implemented a national legal framework on the use and possession of firearms. It also conducted several disarmament programmes, with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union in particular.² The country also receives assistance from ITF Enhancing Human Security, which partners with different local organisations to conduct ammunition disposal activities and enhance Croatia’s stockpile management capacities.³ Croatia has signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty.

¹ Diego Sanjurjo and Karlo Kožina, “Croatian Disarmament Strategies in the 21st Century: Analysis and Results,” Hrvatska i komparativna javna – Croatian and Comparative Public Administration 19, no. 1 (March 2019): 127-158, https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/319432.

² Diego Sanjurjo and Karlo Kožina, “Croatian Disarmament Strategies in the 21st Century.”

³ ITF, Annual Report 2021 (Ljubljana: ITF, 2021), https://www.itf.si/upload/publications/itf_ar_2021.pdf.