Germany
Germany regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Close collaboration with civil society in the area of hate crime victim support has been established at the level of federal states, namely with the Weisser Ring civil society organization (CSO) and a number of specialized CSOs. The Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Victims' Commissioner are in regular contact with a number of victim support institutions and victims' representatives. Germany has conducted victimization surveys to measure under-reported hate crimes. The most recent report covering 2012-2017 is available here.
In 2021, ODIHR, together with Federal Ministries, organized a virtual study visit to Germany on strengthening co-operation between the Government and civil society on hate crime victim support.
The German government funds several organizations and projects to monitor hate incidents and assist hate crime victims. These include the Competence Network Against Antisemitism (KOMPAS), which consists of five experienced civil society organizations that register anti-Semitic incidents and develop measures to prevent anti-Semitism. The government also funds the Competence Network on Hate on the Net, which advises victims of hate speech, strengthens civil society networks, and develops media literacy materials.
OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES
| Year | Hate crimes recorded by police | Prosecuted | Sentenced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17,007 | Not available | Not available |
| 2022 | 11,520 | Not available | Not available |
| 2021 | 10,501 | Not available | Not available |
| 2020 | 10,240 | Not available | Not available |
| 2019 | 8,585 | - | - |
| 2018 | 8,113 | Not available | Not available |
| 2017 | 7,913 | Not available | Not available |
| 2016 | 3,598 | Not available | Not available |
| 2015 | 3046 | Not available | Not available |
| 2014 | 3059 | Not available | Not available |
| 2013 | 4647 | Not available | Not available |
| 2012 | 4514 | Not available | Not available |
| 2011 | 4040 | Not available | Not available |
| 2010 | 3770 | Not available | Not available |
| 2009 | 4583 | Not available | Not available |
About 2013 Data
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Police data include hate crimes, incitement to hatred and propaganda offences. 587 crimes involved violence. Some of the reported crimes involve more than one bias. Therefore, the numbers presented in a breakdown below do not add up to the overall figure. Prosecution and sentencing data only include incitement to hatred and propaganda crimes, and are therefore not included.
Hate crime recorded by police
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR observes that Germany has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech and/or discrimination.
INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
Racist and xenophobic hate crime
In its fifth report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) reiterated its recommendation that the German authorities expressly provide in the Criminal Code that a racist motivation constitutes an aggravating circumstance. ECRI also recommended that the system for recording and following up on racist, xenophobic, homophobic and transphobic incidents be reformed in order to capture all such instances. Finally, ECRI recommended that the police and prosecution services in all federal states establish focal points for recording complaints made by vulnerable groups.
Anti-Semitic hate crime
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published findings from a survey on experiences and perceptions of anti-Semitism conducted in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The survey showed that many respondents have been victims of anti-Semitic violence and harassment, and feared becoming hate crime victims in the future. The survey also mapped the extent of unreported anti-Semitic hate crime. FRA recommended that EU Member States consider taking a number of steps to improve the reporting, recording, investigating and prosecuting of hate crimes.