Hate crime

Hate crimes are criminal acts motivated by bias. 

A hate crime has taken place when a perpetrator has intentionally targeted an individual or property because of one or more identity traits, such as ‘race’, language, religion or belief, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other common feature that is fundamental to identity, or has expressed hostility towards these identity traits during the crime. 

People or property associated with — or perceived to be a member of — a group that shares an identity trait can also be targets of hate crimes, such as human rights defenders, civil society organizations working with or representing a particular group, community centres or places of worship.

Hate crimes harm not only the victim but also entire communities and can threaten social cohesion and security.

ODIHR's Hate Crime Report (HCR) presents hate crime data and information submitted by the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), alongside incidents and data submitted by civil society and international organizations. 

ODIHR publishes the Report each year on 16 November – International Day for Tolerance.

Data collection is the first step in efforts to address hate crime and allows for targeted policies and customized support for victims.

ODIHR supports participating States in preventing and responding to hate crime through three main areas of work.

First, ODIHR helps build the capacity of law enforcement, prosecutors and other criminal justice actors through tailored training programmes that strengthen their ability to identify, investigate and prosecute hate crimes effectively.

Second, ODIHR works to improve support and protection for hate crime victims, with a focus on ensuring victims are treated with sensitivity, respect and understanding, and can access the assistance they need.

Third, ODIHR provides technical assistance to states by developing policy guidance, reviewing legislation and supporting the collection and publication of hate crime data across the OSCE region, including through its annual Hate Crime Report.

Through its Training Against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) and Prosecutors and Hate Crimes Training (PAHCT) programmes, ODIHR helps police officers, prosecutors, judges and other justice actors better recognize, investigate, prosecute and punish hate crimes, while ensuring victims are treated with professionalism, sensitivity and respect.

Both programmes are modular, practical and adaptable to national legal systems and local contexts. Using interactive methods — including real-life case studies, group discussions and exercises — they help build sustainable national expertise and strengthen victim-centred responses to hate crime.

To discuss specific training needs, contact: hatecrimetraining@odihr.pl

Protecting and supporting hate crime victims is an essential and yet often overlooked part of a comprehensive response to hate crimes. ODIHR works with states, civil society and the international community to ensure that victims of hate crimes have access to much-needed protection and support. 

In particular, ODIHR strengthens hate crime victim support structures and practices, trains first responders to understand and address hate crime victims’ needs, and works with policymakers, practitioners and the international community to identify and implement best practices in hate crime victim support.

ODIHR’s work on hate crime victim support has developed step by step.

It began with the EStAR project, which helped improve understanding of victims’ needs and developed multiple resources for victim support providers. This work now continues through the STARS project.

Learn more about EStAR and STARS projects and explore their resources by clicking on the blue buttons above. 

ODIHR helps participating States strengthen their responses to hate crime by improving data collection, providing practical legal and policy advice, and supporting co-operation between institutions and civil society.

Hate crime recording and data collection

Through its Information Against Hate Crime Toolkit programme, ODIHR helps national authorities improve how hate crimes are recorded, collected and analysed. Reliable data helps governments understand the scale and nature of hate crime, identify trends and develop more effective policies and responses.

Legal, policy and operational support

ODIHR provides expert advice on hate crime legislation, policies and criminal justice responses. Recognizing the evolving challenges at the intersection of hate crime and criminalized ‘hate speech’, ODIHR offers specialized legal and prosecutorial expertise to support the identification, investigation and prosecution of bias-motivated offences. 

ODIHR also helps develop practical guidance for police, prosecutors and other criminal justice actors, turning laws and policies into tools that can be applied in everyday work.

Co-operation and partnerships

Effective responses to hate crime require co-operation between many actors. ODIHR supports collaboration between police, prosecutors, government institutions, equality bodies, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations.

By bringing these actors together, ODIHR helps strengthen prevention efforts, improve support for victims and build more coordinated national responses to hate crime.