Racist and xenophobic hate crime

In its "Concluding observations on the combined twelfth and thirteenth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended that the authorities effectively apply existing legislation by registering, investigating, and bringing to justice cases of hate speech and hate crime, and by sanctioning those responsible with the appropriate penalties.

In its fifth report on Croatia, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) observed that many cases of hate crime, especially those targeting Serbs, LGBT people and Roma, are only classified as misdemeanours. ECRI recommended that the bias motive be incorporated from the very beginning in investigations and training for police officers and judicial officials.

In her "Report on the visit to Greece", the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe reiterated previous recommendations for the authorities to enhance implementation of existing anti-hate crime law, to collect and analyse hate crime data in a more systematic manner and to raise public awareness of hate crime.

In its "Concluding observations on the combined sixth to twelfth periodic reports of Latvia", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended that the Latvian authorities prioritize the collection of reliable and comprehensive statistics disaggregated by the ethnicity of the victims, reports, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions for racist hate crimes. CERD also recommended that the authorities develop training programmes on suitable methods for identifying, registering, investigating and prosecuting racist incidents and hate crimes.

In its "Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Lithuania", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended that the Lithuanian authorities encourage the reporting of hate crimes and ensure their prompt identification and registration as such, including through the establishment of a comprehensive and disaggregated data-collection system.

In its "Fifth report on Moldova", the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance recommended that the authorities put in place a system to record hate crimes, collect and publish hate crime data, and ensure that hate crimes are effectively investigated. To these ends, ECRI recommended that the authorities increase its training efforts for police officers and justice officials, and implement confidence-building measures to enhance the relationship between the police and vulnerable groups, in particular, the Roma and the LGBT community.

In its "Concluding observations on the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of Montenegro", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern at violence against Roma people and at the absence of updated and comprehensive disaggregated data on hate crimes. The Committee recommended that the authorities firmly counter acts of racist violence against any ethnic group, in particular Roma, and punish perpetrators with sanctions commensurate to their acts.

In its "Fifth report on Portugal", the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance commended the appointment of four specialized hate crime prosecutors. ECRI recommended that the authorities adopt a broad definition of hate crime based on victims' perceptions and put in place a set of guidelines enabling improved registration and effective processing of such incidents, as well as the production of reliable statistics.

In its fifth report on San Marino, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that the authorities raise awareness of and train officials on hate crime.

In the proceeds from the "Fifth meeting of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council", the European Union noted with concern that the investigation, prosecution and penalties for hate crimes against LGBT people are often inadequate and encouraged Serbia to ensure adequate prosecution of all hate crimes.

In its fifth report on Spain, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that the law enforcement authorities further improve the system for recording and monitoring hate crime.