Publications

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has continuously worked on countering hate crime by strengthening the role of criminal justice systems in addressing this phenomenon. The two-year project “Building a Comprehensive Criminal Justice Response to Hate Crime” will use tailored, innovative approaches at national levels as a laboratory and source of inspiration for transnational solutions.

The publication gives an overview of both domestic and European legislation on the admissibility and use of actio popularis mechanism, the practice of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union as well as the practice of the region. This publication also provides insight on the specific methodology for use of actio popularis, in order to provide proper guidance for citizen associations in terms of the cases and ways they should use this mechanism.

This publication includes case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in relation to hate crimes and hate speech cases. This collection analyzes cases when it comes to speech that incited hatred with particular reference to the case-law of some of the extreme forms of speech that were problematized before the ECtHR. The purpose of this collection is through brief comments on the most interesting judgments and decisions on hate speech and hate crimes, to clarify the standards that the Court has set before the States Parties to the Convention. Not available in English.

This study was commissioned by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). It explores how different types of Jews perceive, experience and respond to anti-Semitism, with a particular focus on three areas: gender, age and religiosity.

ODIHR’s new Guide lays out practical steps that governments are recommended to take to address the security needs of Jewish communities in co-operation and partnership with these same communities.

This guide lays out practical steps that governments are recommended to take to address the security needs of Jewish communities in co-operation and partnership with these same communities. The guide is designed to help governments take stock of security risks and needs with the goal of improving the capacity of law-enforcement officials and institutions to address the security needs of Jewish communities. In addition, this guide deals with related issues, such as the problem of the underreporting and recording of anti-Semitic hate crimes.

People with disabilities are regularly the targets of hate crimes. These crimes remain widely unknown, hidden and misunderstood. Recognizing the magnitude of the problem is the first step in effectively countering these hate crimes. This factsheet provides information on how to recognize and report hate crimes against people with disabilities. This is the first publication in a series that highlights how hate crime affects different groups.

ODIHR has developed the Words Into Action to Address Anti-Semitism project to strengthen the capacity of OSCE participating States and civil society to prevent and respond to anti-Semitism.

A factsheet outlining ODIHR's initiatives in the fight against hate crime.

The report assesses the progress made by Kosovo institutions in respect to the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the areas of inter-community dialogue, security and justice, language, education, returns, culture and media. The report finds that, while progress has been achieved in certain areas, more remains to be done to ensure the protection of communities’ rights. It also provides recommendations to the relevant institutions on how to improve their implementation of the Framework Convention.