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Cvijeta Senta is a human rights defender from Croatia working at the intersection of anti-racism, civic space, and social justice. Her work is grounded in feminist values and a commitment to equality and solidarity. Senta is an Organisational Coordinator at the Centre for Peace Studies and a Program Council Member at Human Rights House Zagreb.

The annual Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 has classified Croatia as one of five EU “dismantlers of the rule of law”, alongside Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia. In this interview, HRHF’s Croatian partner Centre for Peace Studies, a contributor to the report, discusses what this classification means for the country, why Croatia’s democratic challenges often receive limited international attention, and why early warning signs of democratic erosion deserve greater scrutiny.

In 2025, Human Rights House Foundation worked closely with the Network of Human Rights Houses and other civil society partners to defend human rights and support perseverance amidst global uncertainty.

At the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, HRHF and Human Rights House Zagreb urged the Croatian authorities to ensure full access peaceful assemblies, introduce robust safeguards against SLAPPs, and strengthen coordination for implementing international human rights recommendations, and ensure meaningful and timely consultation with civil society.

In September 2025, eighteen human rights defenders from ten countries visited Strasbourg as part of the Advocacy Training Programme, organised by Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) and co-funded by the Council of Europe (CoE) and the governments of Norway and Switzerland.
The study visit took place one week before the Autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), giving participants timely insights and practical experience in engaging with CoE stakeholders and amplifying civil society’s voice at the heart of Europe’s system for protecting and promoting human rights.

From 9 to 13 June, human rights defenders and civil society actors from across the Network of Human Rights Houses and beyond gathered in Oslo for the 2025 Network meeting. Amidst increasing global challenges faced by civil society, participants came together not only to share but also to build new strategies and forge solidarity.

From 8 March to 11 April, the Portraits of Strength exhibition was presented in Croatia’s three largest cities: Zagreb, Osijek, and Split. In close collaboration with local civil society, Human Rights House Zagreb organised the exhibitions and panel discussions. The events brought the powerful stories of women human rights defenders from across the Network of Human Rights Houses to a wider Croatian audience, highlighting the crucial role that women play in defending human rights.

In 2024, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked closely with the Network of Human Rights Houses and other civil society partners to protect and promote human rights amidst increasing challenges, including rising authoritarianism. Find out more in HRHF’s 2024 annual report.

From 10-16 March 2025, the third edition of the Portraits of Strength exhibition, featuring women human rights defenders from the Network of Human Rights Houses, is exhibited at Vega Scene in Oslo as part of the Human International Documentary Film Festival.