Security needs, effective responses to intolerance and hate crimes against Christians discussed at OSCE/ODIHR event in Vienna
Representatives of civil society, governments and international organizations explored ways to improve security for Christian communities in the OSCE region and to address intolerance against Christians at a conference held in Vienna on 14 December 2016.
The Conference on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians was organized by the 2016 German OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
“Numerous tragic events this year are sad evidence to the fact that no OSCE participating State is immune to hate-motivated crimes and incidents. Bias and prejudice exist in one form or another everywhere. It is our responsibility to prevent and respond to all manifestations of intolerance, including against Christians,” said Ambassador Eberhard Pohl, Permanent Representative of Germany to the OSCE and Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council. “I hope that this conference will add to our common efforts of developing sustainable strategies for eradicating the root causes of intolerance and discrimination not only against Christians, but in whatever manifestation and based on whatever motive they occur.”
Cristina Finch, Head of ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-discrimination Department, added: "Identifying specific security needs through dialogue with Christian communities is a necessary first step in effectively addressing intolerance. With the recommendations that this conference will produce, we will be able to work with civil society groups and participating States to develop the appropriate policies and initiatives."
ODIHR collects data on hate crimes and incidents, including those against Christians, which highlights gaps and under-reporting in the information provided on such hate crimes. This conference builds on the results of similar events held in 2011 and 2015 and on the 2005 Cordoba Declaration on combating various forms of intolerance.