SIR: National Media Report – Croatia: The importance of appearances: how suspects and accused persons are presented in public and in the media

The principle of presumption of innocence is contained in the chapter on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, according to which everyone is presumed innocent and may not be held guilty of a criminal offence until such guilt is proven by a binding court judgment.This material constitutional right is reflected in all subsequent laws and subordinate acts and in the statutes of associations and other social institutions as part of the national constitutional order. Its importance is constantly to be pointed out, and the particularly sensitive area in relation to this concept is media coverage of criminal offenses where it is necessary to deal with caution so as not to violate the principle of the presumption of innocence.