OSCE meeting in Vienna focuses on hate crime data deficit

VIENNA, 10 November 2006 - OSCE participating States should strengthen efforts to collect and maintain reliable information and statistics on hate crimes, including on violent manifestations of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, including against Muslims. This was the main concern voiced by participants of a meeting in Vienna today.

Organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), it brought together experts from OSCE participating States, representatives of inter-governmental organizations and civil society.

"Throughout human history, hate has been the principal driving force behind violence and aggression. Today, hate motivated crimes remain part of our reality. Racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence against Roma, members of religious and other communities - all these manifestations of hate pose threats to security and stability in the OSCE region," said Ambassador Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.

"Instigating fear against one community ultimately raises the feeling of insecurity among others too."

Participants pointed out that a data deficit hampers the ability of governments to assess the nature and extent of hate crimes, and stands in the way of effective measures and strategies to prevent and respond to hate-motivated acts. Law enforcement agencies and the judiciary need reliable data to be aware of the trends in hate-motivated crimes, develop adequate policies and offer sufficient protection to vulnerable groups.

The need to develop national legislation in regard to hate crimes, as well as to report cases to the ODIHR, and make such information available to the public was also underlined.

"Certainly, no country has a monopoly on hate; no state can claim to be totally free of prejudice and bigotry. The recent increase in the victimization of vulnerable people is a worldwide phenomenon," said Dr. Jack Levin, of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict, Northeastern University, USA. "When you think of hate, you might want to think of the conflict in the Middle East or the war in Iraq. But please don't forget where hate begins - in the silence of ordinary people."

The ODIHR assists OSCE participating States in developing methodologies for collecting and maintaining reliable information and statistics about hate crimes and violent manifestations of intolerance and discrimination. In June 2005, the Office published a report on Combating hate crimes in the OSCE region, and in October 2006, issued a second paper on Challenges and responses to hate-motivated incidents in the OSCE region, which included updated statistics, legislation and other information submitted by participating States.

The ODIHR has also developed police and civil society training programmes to support states in strengthening their response to hate crimes.