A working group on countering hate crimes was created. The main objectives of the group are to facilitate communication between relevant actors and design tailored reactions to hate crimes. The working group is composed of representatives from groups that experience hate crimes, civil society groups working on hate crime issues, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the administration and the police, as well as representatives of other institutions as necessary (e.g., the Ombudsman, Boarder Guard and other ministries).
On 1 July 2015, a modified electronic statistical charter was introduced that obliges courts to provide information on the motivation of hate crime perpetrators. These changes were aimed at enhancing the hate crime data-collection process and ensuring more effective monitoring of perpetrators' motivation.
On 16 September 2015 the National Jurisdiction and Prosecution School of Poland and ODIHR signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT) programme. Training began in December 2015.
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 133 hate crimes motivated by racism and xenophobia.
Data on hate crimes against Roma and Sinti people and anti-Semitic hate crimes are recorded by the Ministry of the Interior under the Racism and Xenophobia category. They are presented separately on this website.
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 26 hate crimes motivated by bias against Roma and Sinti.
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 50 hate crimes and hate incidents motivated by anti-Semitism.
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 42 hate crimes motivated by anti-Muslim bias.
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 12 hate crimes motivated by anti-Christian bias.
The Open Dialog Foundation reported an incident of vandalism targeting Ukrainians. ILGA-Europe and Lambda Warsaw reported a physical attack on a foreigner. ILGA-Europe and the Antidiscrimination Education Society (TEA) reported a physical assault on a 12-year old boy.
The Never Again Association, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the European Centre for Democracy Development reported the desecration of a Jewish cemetery. The ADL and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported the desecration of a grave in a Jewish cemetery.
The Never Again Association, SETA and the European Centre for Democracy Development reported one incident of vandalism against a mosque. SETA and the Never Again Association reported one incident of the desecration of a mosque and one incident of damage to property incident in which a Muslim-owned store was fired-upon and stoned.
The Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe and the European Centre for Democracy Development reported an incident in which a Catholic church was vandalized with graffiti. The Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture reported ten additional cases of vandalism, one of which involved graffiti on a church; five thefts, and four incidents of the desecration of churches. The Never Again Association reported one additional incident of vandalism.
Jehovah's Witnesses – Poland reported two incidents in which graffiti were sprayed on places of worship.
ILGA-Europe and the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) reported five physical assaults, including one carried out by a group, and one threat against a lesbian woman and her partner. ILGA-Europe, Lambda Warsaw, and the Never Again Association reported two physical assaults, and one incident in which two groups clashed during the Equality Parade.
ILGA-Europe and Lambda Warsaw also reported seven physical assaults, two of which were carried out by groups; and one incident of damage to property. The Never Again Association reported one additional incident of physical assault carried out by a group that caused serious injuries, one incident of threats and one homophobic graffiti.
The Never Again Association reported the attempted murder of a man of African descent and 11 physical assaults, including six carried out by groups and one involving a weapon. The victims included Algerians, German-speaking tourists, Cameroonian, Slovak and Turkish students, Syrians, Nigerians, Chileans and one Palestinian. The Never Again Association also reported one incident of anti-Russian vandalism and one incident of the desecration of German graves.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a further incident of graffiti on a cemetery fence. FODZ reported two incidents of damage to property, one of which was also reported on by the Never Again Association. Amnesty International reported one incident in which a Jewish cultural centre was vandalized with graffiti. The Never Again Association reported one incident of threats; seven incidents of vandalism, five of which involved graffiti; and two cases of the desecration of graves.
The Never Again Association reported five physical assaults, including three carried out by groups, targeting Syrian, Egyptian, Palestinian and Sikh men and one woman; two incidents of threats; and one incident of anti-Muslim graffiti.
The Never Again Association reported four physical assaults, one of which was carried out by a group and one involving a knife.
The Never Again Association reported two physical assaults resulting in serious injuries.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported nine physical assaults, of which six were carried out by groups and one caused serious injuries.
The Holy See reported two physical assaults on Catholic priests, one of which involved the theft of parish property. The Holy See also reported one burglary in a church, one incident of vandalism and two incidents of the desecration of places of worship. The Polish authorities reported back that in one of the desecration cases, a perpetrator was charged with a hate crime, whereas no bias motivation could be confirmed in the other incidents.
ODIHR observes that Poland has met most OSCE commitments on hate crime data collection and reporting. ODIHR further observes that recording of bias motivations by police should be further strengthened and such data reported to ODIHR.