Croatian Couple Win Right to Foster Children

After three long years in court, Croatian couple Ivo Segota and Mladen Kozic have been legally recognised as the foster parents of two children.

The couple, who have refused to remain in the public image after winning their case so as to protect the identity of their children, worked with the Rainbow Family Association on the case. Wanting to be parents for some time, they struggled tirelessly in and out of court to build a case to entitle them to equal treatment in the eyes of Croatian law as far as adoption is concerned. In being recognised as two fathers, to two foster children, they are the first same-sex couple in Croatia to do so. Now, their battle continues to give them the right to adopt these children as their own. 

When they went to apply to foster in 2017, there was no sign that anything was wrong: the Government Agency welcomed them openly, they passed all the relevant tests, and continued along the standard procedure. However, when it came to being awarded the foster licence, the Agency turned around and denied the request, as their relationship - a civil partnership - is not recognised as being able to foster in Croatian law. When heard in court in 2019, the court firmly rejected the Agency's argument, stating that the Couple had a right to be considered. Their request was denied again by the Agency, and they went back to court.

After a lower court ruled against them, the Croatian Constitutional Court finally returned a verdict in their favour, ruling that Government Agencies could not discriminate against same-sex couples in their decision. After a number of further rulings, the courts eventually granted full foster status to the couple, meaning they can progress on towards eventual adoption in time. 

For now, they're just happy to have finally become parents. 

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