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This Opinion was prepared in response to a request by the Central Election Commission of Lithuania. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) conducted this assessment within its mandate to assist OSCE participating States in the implementation of key OSCE commitments in the human dimension.

Review of Kosovo's Civil Justice System by the Department of Human Rights and Rule of Law or the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

This Opinion was prepared in response to a request from the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan received by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in October 2017.

Hate-motivated incidents are often violent manifestations of intolerance which instill fear and divide communities. Tackling underlying prejudice is essential in combating the spread of these divisive actions. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the work of government institutions, the criminal justice system, local authorities and civil society to effectively respond to these incidents. The 'Hate Monitor' provides a monthly update on incidents and responses throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE/ODIHR conducted this assessment within its mandate to "assist participating States, at their request, in developing anti-discrimination legislation, as well as in establishing anti-discrimination bodies".

This Joint Opinion was prepared in response to a request by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe addressed to the Council of Europe's Venice Commission in December 2017. In accordance with standing practice, it was decided that the Venice Commission prepares the Opinion jointly with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The opinion was examined by the Sub-Commission on Fundamental Rights and subsequently adopted by the Venice Commission at its 114th Plenary Session (Venice, 16-17 March 2018).

Working Group I: Independence of the judiciary, Human Dimension Seminar: Strengthening the rule of law in the OSCE area, Warsaw, 12-14 May 2009

The present Joint Opinion was prepared in response to a request by the Chair of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe addressed to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission in December 2017. In accordance with standing practice, it was decided that the Venice Commission prepare the Opinion jointly with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Joint Opinion was discussed at the Sub-Commission on Fundamental Rights (Venice, 15 March 2018) and was subsequently adopted by the Venice Commission at its 114th Plenary Session (Venice, 16-17 March 2018).

Working Session 1: Rule of Law I, Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Warsaw, 29 September- 10 October 2008

It is important to now what is a hate crime. When a hate crime is committed, one or more perpetrators target the victim, which can be one or more people or property, because of a protected aspect of the victim's identity, such as religion or ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or disability. Similarly, a hate incident is an act of hostility motivated by prejudice or bias that does not necessarily reach the threshold of a criminal offence, or the criminal nature of which is yet to be determined. A hate crime is any crime where the perpetrator is driven by prejudice or bias. Criminal offence + bias motive = hate crime.