Recognizing the full impact of hate crime is key to supporting victims, ODIHR event highlights

Recognizing how different forms of bias intersect is essential to understanding hate crime and meeting victims’ needs. This was the focus of a discussion organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 8 October 2026.

People may be targeted because of several characteristics, such as their ethnicity, religion, gender or disability. These can also shape the harm they experience and the barriers they face when seeking help. An intersectional approach considers how these characteristics interact, helping practitioners recognize aspects of a crime or a victim’s needs that might otherwise be overlooked.

“When someone reports a hate crime, they need to know that the whole of their experience will be heard. If we recognize only one aspect of why they were targeted, we risk missing both the harm they suffered and the support they need,” said Donnah Vuma, Programme Coordinator at Migrant Victims of Crime Support in Ireland.

“Support is only effective if people can access it. For a person with a disability who experiences hate crime, that means considering accessibility alongside the different forms of prejudice they may face, and involving them in decisions about the support they receive,” said Adela Santos Lavigne, Project Coordinator at the European Network on Independent Living.

Participants explored how to recognize and record different signs of bias, address barriers to reporting and adapt support to each person’s circumstances. Civil society practitioners shared experiences from Ireland, Hungary and Spain.

The discussion will inform ODIHR’s forthcoming practical guidance on intersectional approaches to hate crime and victim support, developed through its partnership with the EEA and Norway Grants. The event took place during the 2026 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.