OSCE/ODIHR provides training for prosecutors on hate crime

The skills and tools required to successfully prosecute hate crimes were at the centre of the first training-of-trainers event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) as part of its Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT) programme. The training was provided in Warsaw from 13 to 15 May 2015.

"ODIHR is committed to helping participating States end bias-motivated violence, and prosecutors are a central part of our strategy. This training event is essential to help us prepare prosecutors for PAHCT's implementation," said Ales Hanek, Hate Crime Officer with ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department and a trainer at the event. "By bringing together officials with extensive experience in prosecuting hate crimes with other prosecutors who want to strengthen their knowledge of this critical issue, we are able to help them guide their colleagues in the most effective way."

"This event is a natural evolution from the creation of PAHCT and its accompanying guide. Bringing together prosecutors with different backgrounds helps raise awareness of the magnitude of the problem and the ways in which we can challenge it effectively," said Elizabeth Howe, General Counsel to the International Association of Prosecutors. "Recognizing the damaging impacts of hate crimes on both individuals and to the fabric of society is essential if we want to actively counter this scourge."

The accompanying guide – Prosecuting Hate Crimes: A Practical Guide – was written in co-operation with the International Association of Prosecutors to improve the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes across the OSCE region. The guide, which complements ODIHR’s Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT), was released last year and is relevant to different legal systems and legislative frameworks. It aims to explain the impact of hate crimes by highlighting their specific features compared with other crimes.

The training is the latest part of ODIHR efforts to reinforce prosecutor's abilities to prosecute hate crimes effectively. PAHCT aims to expand and hone prosecutors’ abilities to identify hate crimes and bring hate crime cases to trial, to gain convictions and to ensure appropriate sentencing.