OSCE/ODIHR releases new tools to help participating States counter hate crimes

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released two publications to assist OSCE participating States in addressing issues of hate crimes on 30 September 2014, during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.

Prosecuting Hate Crimes: A Practical Guide, written in co-operation with the International Association of Prosecutors is aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes across the OSCE region, while Hate Crime Data Collection and Monitoring: A Practical Guide, written in co-operation with national experts, partner international organizations and civil society groups responsible for monitoring hate crimes is aimed at addressing current gaps in available hate crime data.

“These publications are the product of close co-operation between ODIHR and national experts and aim to present practical, relevant and applicable principles, recommendations and actions to support efforts to understand and address hate crime across the OSCE region,” said ODIHR First Deputy Director Beatriz Balbin. “We know that hate crime knows no borders and, in this regard, these tools are applicable in all OSCE participating States.”

During the event, participants were also invited to participate in the Prosecutors and Hate Crimes Training (PAHCT) programme, created to help prosecutors in building solid hate crime cases, particularly in working with evidence of bias motivation.

“The prosecutors guide completes a series of tools that, together, provide a valuable, holistic approach to dealing with hate crime,” said Michael Whine, Director of Government and International Affairs of the UK’s Community Security Trust. “We already have police training, and now we have best practices for prosecutors.”