A successful week for Croatia at the UN

At Croatia’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring June 27 as the International Day of Deafblindness. The resolution was adopted by consensus on June 16, with an impressive 99 member states co-sponsoring it. Croatia led the initiative and the process of proposing and adopting the resolution in cooperation with other members of the cross-regional core group, which also included Antigua and Barbuda, Jordan, Djibouti, and Tanzania.
 
It is estimated that deafblindness affects about 2% of the world’s population—or roughly 160 million people. June 27 was chosen in honour of the birth of the renowned American author Helen Keller (1880-1968), who, despite being deafblind herself, achieved global literary acclaim through perseverance and dedication. She remains an enduring symbol and source of inspiration for millions of deafblind individuals around the world. The adoption of this resolution by the General Assembly represents major recognition—not only for deafblind individuals but also for their families and the professionals who work with them. It also sends a powerful message of respect, recognition, and the importance of social inclusion for deafblind people. In the lead-up to the adoption, a side event promoting the initiative was held at UN Headquarters during the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), with the World Federation of the Deafblind making a valuable contribution.
 
Also on June 16, 2025, elections were held for new members of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) for the 2026-2028 term. Among those elected was Professor Dr. Marija Definis, a distinguished Croatian human rights expert with many years of experience in international organizations.
 
The Committee on Enforced Disappearances, operating under the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is a key international mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Its members play an essential role in promoting human rights, protecting victims of enforced disappearances, and holding states accountable for implementing measures to prevent such actions.
 
The election of Prof. Dr. Marija Definis once again highlights the recognition of Croatian experts in the field of human rights and reaffirms Croatia’s international reputation and its ongoing contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights within international and regional organizations.
 
Both of this week’s successes are a testament to the recognition Croatia receives on the international stage, demonstrating its steadfast commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and upholding the core principles of the United Nations, even amid complex geopolitical circumstances.

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