OJS (University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica)
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Enhancing Crisis Readiness: Civil Protection Exercises and Public Awareness in the City of Zagreb
No full textAbstract: This paper explores the role of civil protection exercises and public awareness initiatives in improving emergency preparedness in the City of Zagreb. The city regularly conducts exercises involving various stakeholders to assess the effectiveness and coordination of emergency services in crisis situations. Public education campaigns also play a key role in boosting community resilience by equipping citizens with the necessary skills to respond to emergencies.
The research focuses on two major drills held last year: one simulating a radiological incident and another involving a large-scale rescue operation. Data was gathered from official reports, expert evaluations, and observations. The study also analyzes real-life emergencies, such as an earthquake and storm, to assess their impact on current preparedness strategies. Public education efforts were evaluated based on participation and effectiveness. The findings suggest that civil protection exercises improve coordination and operational efficiency among emergency services. While real-life incidents have exposed gaps in coordination and resource management, ongoing training and system improvements are needed. Public awareness initiatives have been effective in educating citizens, but more outreach is required to enhance societal resilience. Combining structured exercises and public education is crucial for strengthening crisis preparedness in Zagreb.
1. INTRODUCTION
This paper examines how civil protection exercises and public awareness initiatives contribute to improving the City of Zagreb’s preparedness for emergency situations. The city regularly conducts exercises involving all relevant stakeholders to assess the effectiveness and coordination of emergency services in crisis scenarios. Additionally, public education campaigns play a crucial role in enhancing community resilience by equipping citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively to emergencies.
2. METHODOLOGY
The research is based on an analysis of civil protection exercises conducted in Zagreb, focusing on two major drills held last year: one simulating a radiological incident and another involving the rescue of multiple individuals from a complex of three large buildings. Data was gathered from official reports, expert evaluations, and observations of exercise performance. Furthermore, the study incorporates insights from real-life emergencies, such as an earthquake and a severe storm, to evaluate how past experiences have shaped current preparedness strategies. Public education efforts were also analyzed through participation levels and effectiveness in raising awareness about disaster response measures.
3. RESULTS
Findings indicate that civil protection exercises significantly contribute to improving coordination, decision-making speed, and operational efficiency among emergency services, including medical teams, firefighters, and law enforcement. While exercises help identify shortcomings in response strategies, real-life emergencies have further exposed gaps in inter-agency coordination and resource management. The study highlights the importance of continuous training and system improvements to address these challenges. Additionally, public awareness initiatives have proven effective in educating citizens about emergency preparedness, though further engagement and outreach efforts are necessary to enhance overall societal resilience. The combination of structured exercises and public education is essential for strengthening crisis readiness in the City of Zagreb
Protection of cultural property in crisis conditions in the City of Zagreb
No full textAbstract: Cultural goods are tangible and intangible goods; movable and immovable property of cultural-historical, artistic, architectural, paleontological, archaeological, ethnographic, anthropological and scientific significance; intangible forms and phenomena of man's spiritual creativity in the past that are of interest to the Republic of Croatia and are entered into the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia on the basis of the Decision on the Proclamation of the Status of Cultural Property.
Movable cultural property can be all objects and records of cultural, historical, artistic, paleontological, archaeological, anthropological, ethnological, scientific, technical and social significance: individual objects and collections in museums, libraries, archives and other institutions; individual objects, collections, sacral inventories and equipment owned by religious communities; movable archaeological finds and objects and collections of other legal and natural persons. Immovable cultural heritage with the established property of cultural property consists of individual buildings and/or complexes of buildings, cultural and historical units and landscapes. Immovable cultural property represents architectural heritage from an individual building to a whole (group of buildings) or area (landscape).
The paper will analyze on the example of the City of Zagreb what needs to be considered in order to optimally and responsibly approach the protection of cultural property in crisis conditions, what are the differences in treatment depending on the manifestations of threats, threats will be categorized according to the time of action/preparation for the protection of the property, and an assessment of the risk of total destruction of the property will be made with regard to the type of threat and the type of cultural property with the intention that the proposed assessment model can be applied in the analysis of the risk of total destruction of each object of immovable cultural heritage (e.g. building, church, palace, monument) and specific sets of movable cultural property. This can help in planning the prioritization of investments in the protection of cultural property. The paper will also present examples of good practice, but also present proposals with the purpose of further improving the level of protection.
1. INTRODUCTION
During major accidents and catastrophes, all segments of the human community are destroyed. One of them is cultural property, which is an indispensable proof of cultural creation and upgrading over the centuries. Cultural property is by its very nature endangered and must be treated with special care, since due to their age they are sensitive to weathering and structurally impervious to threats such as earthquakes. Measures for the protection and preservation of movable cultural property are strict and prescribed in detail, and all cultural institutions adhere to them under normal circumstances. However, the problem arises during emergencies such as major accidents and disasters when they cannot be protected in the usual way because there is not enough time or conditions. In such situations, it is necessary to save and preserve as much as possible with as few necessary resources as possible. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to make an assessment of the risk of total destruction of the property with regard to the type of threat and the type of cultural property at the level of the institution that preserves and stores the cultural property, in order to create the preconditions for planning the course of action with the aim of urgent protection during major accidents and disasters. While it is possible to evacuate and relocate movable cultural property, and therefore planning is required at the micro level (at the level of the institutions that own the cultural property), immovable cultural property can only be protected by taking preventive measures, mainly related to the strengthening of the structures themselves, because neither relocation nor evacuation is possible.
Therefore, with the aim of protecting immovable cultural property, it is also necessary to make a risk assessment not only with regard to the manifestation of possible threats, but also with regard to value and significance, in order to prioritize cultural heritage at the state level in a situation of always insufficient financial resources for the restoration and anti-seismic strengthening of the entire immovable cultural heritage.
2. METHODOLOGY
The main methods used in the paper are analysis, categorization and evaluation. The analysis provides knowledge of all threats that can lead to the total destruction of cultural property with regard to the type and characteristic of the cultural property, the categorization groups certain specifics into logical groups according to common properties, while the assessment ranks the consequences of events that can lead to the destruction of cultural property.
3. RESULTS
In order to optimally approach the protection of cultural property, we must first detect what threatens them and in what way, and plan protection measures accordingly. Threats do not manifest themselves in the same way given the time we have to prepare for the occurrence of an event and the type of measures that can be taken with the aim of protecting cultural property. For this reason, the paper lists sources for the assessment of internal and external threats, guidelines for categorization/selection of materials, and an assessment of the risk of total destruction of materials with regard to the type of threat and the type of cultural property.
The aim of this paper is to point out what needs to be considered in order to protect cultural property, to point out what can be done, but also to provide guidelines for planning the prioritization of investments in the protection of cultural property. Due to the existence of modern techniques, some cultural goods can be "conserved" by digitizing or virtually moving them, but for a large part of cultural goods without timely planning and preventive activities, there may be a permanent loss of historical and cultural values
Application of international human rights standards in police treatment of migrants - Analysis of the case M. H. and Others v. Croatia
No full textNezakonite migracije jedan su od najvećih izazova za današnje društvo i predstavljaju globalni fenomen koji zahtijeva uravnotežen pristup između zaštite nacionalne sigurnosti i poštivanja ljudskih prava migranata.
Ova studija slučaja analizira presudu Europskog suda za ljudska prava (dalje: ESLJP) u predmetu M.H. i drugi protiv Hrvatske, s fokusom na primjenu međunarodnih standarda ljudskih prava u postupanju hrvatske policije prema migrantima.
Studija se temelji na analizi dostupnih pravnih dokumenata, uključujući presudu ESLJP-a, relevantne zakone i propise Republike Hrvatske te smjernice međunarodnih organizacija za zaštitu ljudskih prava migranata.
Obitelj iz Afganistana, sastavljena od majke i njezino šestero djece, pokušala je ilegalno prijeći granicu Hrvatske iz Srbije u studenom 2017. godine. Nakon uhićenja, policijski službenici su ih kolektivno protjerali natrag u Srbiju bez pojedinačnog ispitivanja njihovih potreba za međunarodnom zaštitom. Obitelj je također tvrdila da su tijekom postupanja hrvatske policije pretrpjeli fizičko zlostavljanje.
Europski sud za ljudska prava u svojoj presudi od 18. studenoga 2021. godine presudio je da je u predmetu M.H. i drugi protiv Hrvatske (broj zahtjeva 15670/18 i 43115/18) Republika Hrvatska afganistanskim migrantima uzrokovala višestruke povrede prava zajamčenih Konvencijom za zaštitu temeljnih ljudskih prava i sloboda (dalje: Konvencija) , odnosno da je došlo do povrede čl. 2. Konvencije – pravo na život (postupovni aspekt), povrede čl. 3. Konvencije – zabrana mučenja (materijalni aspekt), povrede čl. 5. st. 1. Konvencije – pravo na slobodu i sigurnost, povrede čl. 4. Protokola br. 4 uz Konvenciju – zabrana kolektivnog protjerivanja stranaca i povrede čl. 34. Konvencije.
Slučaj M.H. protiv Hrvatske ističe važnost i potrebu usklađenosti policijskog postupanja s međunarodnim standardima ljudskih prava. Odluka ESLJP ima značajan utjecaj na pravnu praksu država Europske unije u vezi sa zaštitom prava migranata, postavljajući standarde za postupanje policije na granici. Zaštita prava migranata zahtijeva koordinirane napore u zakonodavstvu, obuci policije i uspostavi učinkovitih mehanizama nadzora
Veterinarians as first responders in disaster management: Integrating animal health and welfare into disaster management frameworks
No full textIntroduction
Natural disasters have severe and far-reaching impacts on human and animal health, economic stability, and ecosystems. Animals—livestock, companion animals, and wildlife—are critical components of societal resilience in times of crisis. An animal in a disaster can be a victim, a danger, a source of food, a rescuer or a sentinel. Under the One Health framework, human, animal, and environmental health interdependence is well recognized. However, despite this awareness and approach, advocated mainly by veterinary groups, many European countries lack appropriate frameworks to address animal health and welfare during disasters.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)) has emphasized integrating animal health and welfare into disaster preparedness and response strategies. A 2023 survey of WOAH European members reveals that:
Only 51% of countries include animal welfare in their disaster risk frameworks.
39% report limited or no legal authority to manage animal-related emergencies.
Veterinary services are involved in disaster management but often face coordination and resource challenges (WOAH, 2023).
This paper proposes a strategic approach to position veterinarians as first responders in disaster scenarios, advocating for policy reform, training programs, and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Methodology
This qualitative study synthesizes data from WOAH’s 2023 regional survey, organizational guidelines, and literature on disaster management through One Health approach. A thematic analysis identified patterns in legal authority, coordination mechanisms, and preparedness across European countries. The research also reviewed WOAH simulation exercises and existing case studies where veterinarians participated in disaster response. The goal was to assess current limitations and outline actionable pathways for integrating veterinary services into emergency systems.
Main Results
The analysis identified several core challenges that currently prevent the effective integration of veterinarians into disaster management systems across Europe.
First, there is limited policy integration of animal welfare in disaster risk frameworks. Many European countries still do not formally recognize animal health and welfare as a component of national disaster preparedness and response. As a result, emergencies involving animals are often inadequately addressed, despite their clear impact on public health and metal health, environmental sustainability and economic recovery.
Second, veterinary services frequently lack the necessary training and resources to respond effectively to disasters. Most countries do not provide veterinarians with specialized education or operational protocols for managing crises such as evacuations, sheltering, triage, or zoonotic disease prevention. This results in an underutilization of veterinary expertise at times when it is critically needed.
Third, collaboration between veterinary authorities and civil protection systems remains inconsistent and fragmented. In many cases, there are no clearly defined roles for veterinary services within national emergency frameworks. This lack of coordination leads to confusion, inefficiencies, and delays in response efforts during disasters.
Fourth, the impact of disasters on animals—particularly livestock and companion animals—has significant secondary effects on human communities. Large-scale events such as floods and wildfires have caused mass displacement and mortality among animals, leading to financial losses, disrupted livelihoods, and increased risk of disease transmission. The absence of veterinary involvement in managing these situations exacerbates the consequences for affected populations.
Despite these challenges, the study identified several key opportunities to strengthen disaster resilience through the active involvement of veterinarians as first responders. Their medical training, understanding of animal health and welfare, and trusted role in communities make them well-suited to contribute across multiple phases of disaster management. They can lead or support evacuation processes, provide emergency veterinary care in shelters, monitor and contain zoonotic disease outbreaks, and help restore livestock-based economies in rural areas
Critical Infrastructure Resilience and Civil Preparedness: EU and NATO approaches
Get PDFFollowing three subsequent attacks against EU Member States’ critical infrastructures (CIs) in the Baltic Sea in late 2024, NATO urged its member countries to think about conflict preparedness. In early 2025, while debating the risks and consequences of attacks against EU CIs, the European Parliament urged Member States to consider how to prepare for the worst-case scenario, considering the rising geopolitical tensions and Russia’s hybrid attacks against EU CIs. In absence of its own defence capabilities, the EU depends heavily on NATO for military defence. While the military Alliance considers civil preparedness a central pillar of its members’ resilience in the face of conflict and an enabler for collective defence, EU Member States’ degree of civil preparedness has been evaluated as inadequate. Yet, former Finnish President considers civil preparedness as a citizens’ right and Sweden has already distributed booklets, across the country’s households, on what to do in case of war. This paper compares the civil preparedness policy frameworks and capabilities of the EU and NATO, in case of CI failure during conflict. It identifies points of convergence, divergence, complementarities and synergies to assess the degree to which the EU is adequately equipped to respond and recover from cyber-attacks against CIs and mitigate their impacts on the civilian population. The discussion focuses on the current weaknesses of the EU’s framework and capacities and provides guidance on how to integrate the governance of CI resilience within civil preparedness and crisis management frameworks
Extrabudgetary Civil Protection Fund
Get PDFExtrabudgetary funds represent a specific financing mechanism that enables the targeted collection and allocation of resources for specific purposes. The Civil Protection System Act of 2015 stipulated that the Republic of Croatia should establish an extrabudgetary civil protection fund through a special law to secure financial resources for protection and rescue in major accidents and disasters. A special law was supposed to regulate the establishment and operation of the extrabudgetary civil protection fund, but this was never implemented. The extrabudgetary civil protection fund could play a key role in ensuring the security and resilience of the community in the face of emergency events that can escalate into major emergencies and disasters. The extrabudgetary civil protection fund can also offer support in the preparation and implementation of disaster risk reduction activities, as well as to assist local government units in carrying out civil protection measures and activities within their jurisdiction. This paper aims to demonstrate the importance, role, and challenges associated with managing the extrabudgetary civil protection fund. Through the conducted research, the paper will present financial indicators related to the planning and expenditure of funds to determine the priorities for the development of civil protection that can be financed through the extrabudgetary civil protection fund
Communication as a Tool for the Public Good in Times of Crises Caused by the Earthquakes in the City of Zagreb
Get PDFThe risk of earthquakes is continuously present in the Zagreb area, and the strongest one occurred on 9 November 1880. Its catastrophic effects on the city and its population are evident from the records and press publications at the time, the analysis of which reveals the prompt and concrete responses of the city authorities, as the crisis management team, to a major disaster. Communication is primarily one-way and serves the function of ensuring urban safety, and public space is largely regulated and subordinated to official sources. Despite the structured communication immediately after the outbreak of the crisis, over time, there has been an increase in disinformation in public discourse, which negatively affects crisis management and social movements, and even results in the introduction of repressive models for the purpose of controlling the distribution of information and creating a public narrative. The institutionalisation of the urban security concept in the public policies of the City of Zagreb identifies internal and external communication as the backbone of crisis management, defining protocols and assuming the integration of key stakeholders for acting in circumstances of threats of various types and intensities. In the crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquake, which intertwined in Zagreb in 2020, technical and organisational preparedness, with the use of modern technologies, are proved to be a prerequisite for an organised system to provide a successful response to crises through modern communication practices, and self-sustaining specialised platforms represent an imperative for security structures and a priority for a responsible society in establishing and maintaining official dialogue between public authorities and the public in all phases of the crisis. Along with the undeniable benefits of interactive internet services, which manifested their dominance in a crisis context in the rapid and multidirectional exchange of messages, the absence of structured mass communication in accordance with a previously clearly defined crisis plan is conducive to contradictions and the spread of unreliable information that is taken from numerous sources in the entire spectrum of (in)competence
Reconceptualizing the Civil Defence Paradigm: Insights from European Civil Protection Developments in the DPPI SEE Member States
Get PDFThe European civil protection landscape has evolved significantly in response to growing transboundary risks, necessitating enhanced cooperation, interoperability, and resilience. Instruments such as the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and RescEU (as a reserve within UCPM framework) have played a central role in shaping national civil protection and civil defence strategies, while frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasize prevention, capacity building, and resilient infrastructure. Following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2022, a shift toward a more integrated civil defence paradigm has emerged, integrating prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities across national borders. Within this evolving context, the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE) serves as a regional platform, facilitating collaboration among national civil protection authorities and fostering knowledge exchange in disaster preparedness and prevention aligned with experiences and standards of the European Union, United Nations Agencies and other relevant stakeholders connected with civil protection and humanitarian action, encompassed with DPPI SEE interests and mandate. This paper examines the extent to which developments within the European civil protection system influence national paradigms of civil defence among DPPI SEE member states, with a particular focus on preparedness, prevention, and cross-border cooperation. The study employs qualitative data collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to national civil protection focal points across the ten DPPI SEE member states, but also regarding the statements and reactions received by representatives of the member states regarding the title and purpose of this study. Preliminary findings reveal a broad acknowledgment of the need to adapt national systems to contemporary risks. However, divergences persist concerning the integration of civil protection and civil defence concepts. Although progress toward alignment with European Union standards is evident, disparities in institutional capacity, legal frameworks, and available resources remain considerable challenges.The findings highlight the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and value of innovative technologies, harmonized legal and institutional frameworks and enhanced cross-sector collaboration. By exploring the evolving civil defence paradigm in South-Eastern Europe, the paper offers insights into the opportunities and challenges of aligning national systems within broader European trends, while recognizing region-specific complexities and contexts
How Culture and Cultural Practices Contribute to Disaster Risk Reduction in the Local Community: Evidence from Zagreb County
Get PDFCultural practices and amateur cultural associations play a crucial role in reducing disaster risk within local communities. They strengthen social cohesion and solidarity, enabling a faster and more effective response in crisis situations. Cultural activities transmit traditional knowledge on resilience to natural and social challenges and raise awareness of risks and the importance of prevention through artistic expression. Additionally, cultural organizations often mobilize volunteers and resources necessary for crisis response and serve as intermediaries between institutions and citizens. After disasters, culture aids in the psychological recovery of the population by providing a space for expression and collective community renewal. Cultural centers and spaces can also serve as temporary shelters or logistical hubs for aid distribution. Active citizen participation in civil society organizations focused on culture requires continuous support from local governance structures and adequate funding for their work. Integrating cultural initiatives into disaster management strategies enhances the resilience of local communities and contributes to long-term sustainable development and the strengthening of social cohesion
CROalertNet – System Architecture and Proposed Modules
Get PDFThis paper expands on the previously presented idea for a new information system – CROalertNet. CROalertNet is a multi-platform, multi-module information system designed to use mobile devices to assist civilians during crisis events and which is capable of maintaining a basic degree of functionality in offline mode, which is the expected state during a major crisis event. Our previous work described the need for such an information system and presented, in detail, the idea of a single module – a bomb shelter location mobile application. The previously presented module is a small part of the whole system and in this paper, we expand on the system by proposing a full module list and basic system architecture of the CROalertNet information system. A fully developed CROalertNet system would greatly enhance communication capabilities during crises and enable civilians access to vital information even when communication channels (such as mobile networks) break down or function in a reduced capacity due to network congestion