In February 2023, we started the process of bringing together civil society organizations (CSOs) for human rights to ensure better continuous cooperation of local civil society with city bodies whose authority is the protection of certain aspects of human rights.

The first meeting of the informal Zagreb coalition of CSOs for the advocacy of human rights in the City of Zagreb brought together 13 associations:  Association Anchor, Center for Peace Studies, Clubture, Coalition of Associations in Health Care, Croatian Network for the Homeless, Croatian Union of Associations for Autism, Croatian Youth Network, Documenta, Friends of the Earth Croatia, Human Rights House Zagreb, Right to the City Zagreb, Women’s room and Zagreb Pride. All member associations are CSOs that operate in Zagreb and whose work is centered on relevant human rights areas (protection and promotion of human rights, women’s rights, youth rights, environmental protection, independent culture, healthcare, persons with disabilities, education, housing rights and socially excluded persons, transitional justice and the culture of remembrance and other areas).

The coalition is conceptualized as an informal network of human rights civil society organizations which would gather relevant civil society organizations for structuring, more systematically monitoring and responding to the protection and promotion of human rights at the city level.

Through concerted efforts, we will work to improve citizens’ participation in forming decisions that are of public interest and to improve the quality of future measures of local authorities that protect human rights.