Hate crimes are criminal acts driven by bias against identity, such as race, religion or ethnicity. They harm not only the victim but also entire communities and can threaten social cohesion and security.
ODIHR supports states in building strong responses to hate crimes. This includes developing policy guidance, reviewing legislation and advising on effective systems to protect victims. A central focus is ensuring victims receive sensitive, respectful treatment and the support they need.
Through tailored training programmes, ODIHR equips law enforcement, prosecutors and other justice actors with the skills to identify, investigate and prosecute hate crimes. ODIHR also collects and publishes data from across the OSCE region in its annual Hate Crime Report.
