On 22 May 1992 Croatia became a member of the United Nations, an international organization that aims to maintain global peace and security, promote economic cooperation and prosperity, and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. This opened a new historic chapter for Croatia, ensuring international recognition of its independence and sovereignty amidst war.
The following years offered numerous opportunities to achieve important foreign-policy goals and further affirm Croatia in various areas of the organization’s scope. In the 28 years of UN membership, Croatia has grown from an aid recipient country to an active member, taking equal part in reforms, peacekeeping missions and global challenge responses.
Croatia’s UN membership has been marked by committed participation in all of its key political bodies, such as the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council, as well as by valuable contribution to various committees and commissions on the part of Croatian diplomats and experts engaged in peacekeeping missions and members of the Armed Forces and Ministry of the Interior.
Through its diplomatic and multilateral activities within the UN, in addition to its EU and NATO membership, Croatia actively participates in seeking solutions to the numerous issues and challenges of today, such as geopolitical tensions, crisis of multilateralism caused by unilateral actions, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian issues, fight against terrorism, hybrid threats and so forth. At the 74th session of the General Assembly, Croatia was tasked to coordinate in cooperation with Afghanistan the collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the decade ahead, Croatia will continue its responsible work within the UN system, having announced its reapplication for membership in ECOSOC in 2021, PBC in 2025 and SC in 2029. One of the current priorities is also Maja Seršić’s nomination for the International Court of Justice end-2020 elections.