Responding to Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities

Part of ODIHR’s “Turning Words into Action to Address Anti-Semitism” project, this event will provide a platform for discussing the security needs of Jewish communities in Bavaria, Germany, including developing responses to anti-Semitic hate crimes in the region. Participants will include representatives of law enforcement, local Jewish communities and the authorities, including Bavaria’s State Anti-Semitism Commissioner and officials from the Interior Ministry of Bavaria and the Munich Prosecutor’s Office.

The event will open with a public presentation of ODIHR’s practical guide Understanding Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities (the Security Guide). Following the presentation, the participants will engage in panel discussions on responses to anti-Semitism in Bavaria. They will explore international good practices in strengthening co-operation between the police and Jewish communities, as presented by security experts.

The public discussions will be followed by a closed workshop for law enforcement officials and Jewish community representatives on implementing the Security Guide’s ten practical steps for responding to anti-Semitic hate crimes. By applying case studies, participants will identify concrete solutions and recommendations to address specific security challenges and scenarios.

Since its publication in 2017, the guide has been translated into 12 languages, including German.