Addressing hate crime and supporting victims: Practical guidance on an intersectional approach

A person may be targeted by hate crime because of several intersecting characteristics, such as their ethnicity, religion, gender or disability. These characteristics can also shape the harm they experience, the barriers they face in reporting a crime and the support they need.

At this side event during the 2026 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, ODIHR will present its forthcoming practical guidance on intersectional approaches to addressing hate crime and supporting victims.

The guidance will help practitioners recognize how different forms of bias interact and ensure that responses reflect each victim’s circumstances. It will explain intersectional targeting and impact, share good practices and recommend practical measures to strengthen institutional policies.

Drawing on experiences from across the OSCE region, the discussion will explore how authorities and civil society can apply these approaches to hate crime recording, investigations and victim support. Participants will consider how to recognize aspects of a victim’s experience that might otherwise be overlooked and improve access to protection, support and justice.

The guidance is being developed through ODIHR’s partnership with the EEA and Norway Grants, which supports efforts to strengthen human rights, democracy and the rule of law across OSCE participating States.

Welcoming remarks

• Tea Jaliashvili, First Deputy Director, ODIHR

Presentation of the forthcoming guidance

• Mikaela Christiansson, Adviser on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, ODIHR
• Tomasz Filipiak, Associate Project Officer, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, ODIHR

Panel discussion

• Donnah Vuma, Programme Coordinator, Migrant Victims of Crime Support, Ireland
• Tamás Dombos, Executive Board Member and Project Coordinator, Háttér Society, Hungary
• Adela Santos Lavigne, Project Coordinator, European Network on Independent Living, Spain

Moderator: Mikaela Christiansson, ODIHR

Closing remarks

• Pierre Baussand, Head of the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, ODIHR

The side event is open to registered participants of the 2026 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. The discussion will include an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Light refreshments, including sandwiches, will be available.

For questions, please contact Tomasz Filipiak, ODIHR Associate Project Officer, at Tomasz.Filipiak@odihr.pl.