OSCE/ODIHR delivers workshop on hate crime for representatives of intergovernmental organizations

Understanding how to counter hate crime, exchanging experiences and identifying avenues of co-operation were at the centre of a two-day workshop organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw. The event, which takes place annually, brought together 19 participants from intergovernmental organizations and OSCE field operations.

The workshop focused on the OSCE concept of hate crime and how to work with governments and civil society to address this issue. Participants had the opportunity to share good practices and developments, identify ways to improve their response to hate crimes, and discuss co-operation with ODIHR. Participants also discussed the challenges that field operations face in their work to address hate crime.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for representatives of intergovernmental organizations to come together and identify new methods of co-operation, gaining a better understanding of each organization’s specific role and developing synergies in our work” said Francois Deleu, Hate Crime Officer with ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department and one of the trainers at the event.

The workshop was attended by participants from OSCE field operations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Skopje, Tajikistan, Kosovo, and Yerevan. Representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Sarajevo Hate Crime Coalition also participated.