Practical guide to hate crime legislation launched in Vienna

On March 19, 2009, a practical guide to hate crime legislation prepared by experts from the Office for Democracy and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) was presented at an OSCE-sponsored roundtable in Vienna on 19 March 2009. See OSCE press release .

The guide provides an overview of different approaches to hate crime legislation, considers examples of national legislation, and outlines options for recommendations. These recommendations can form the basis for a meaningful discussion on improving legislation at the national level.

The manual is available in English and Russian on the OSCE website in PDF format.

Director of the SOVA Center A. Verkhovsky participated in the preparation of this Guide. SOVA plans to initiate discussion of the Guidelines in Russia.

On March 20, the discussion in Vienna on manifestations of racism and xenophobia in the OSCE region continued in a broader context.

On 20 March, on the eve of the International Day against Racial Discrimination (21 March), the ODIHR, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI, a body of the Council of Europe) and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) issued a joint statement calling on all governments to act against racist actions. In particular, they called for avoiding ethnic and racist simplification when discussing social issues, organizing special training for law enforcement agencies, cooperating more actively with civil society (including in collecting data on cases of discrimination and violence and helping victims of racism), and pursuing an inclusive policy towards minorities of various kinds.