The breakdown below does not include incidents that fall outside the OSCE definition of hate crime (such as hate speech). However, the category "Racism and xenophobia", may include incidents that fall outside the OSCE hate crime definition as the reported data in this category were not disaggregated.
In 2023, a centrally mandated and mandatory training on "Anti-Semitism and Hate Crimes" was implemented (BM Decree 2/2013 (I. 30.)). The training aims to apply the definition of anti-Semitism, in particular with a view to improving the effectiveness of hate crime prosecution.
On 28 November 2023, 20 police officers were trained on hate crime and the sensitive treatment of hate crime victims as part of a new training programme for professionals working in the criminal justice and victim support systems. The programme forms part of a project titled "Counter-Hate: Helping victims of hate crime through a victim-centred and intersectional approach", implemented by the HÁTTÉR society and the Deputy Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of National Minorities in Hungary and funded by the European Union's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
On 16 January 2023, 108 early-career prosecutors (appointed not more than three years prior) participated in a lecture on hate crimes as part of their training.
In 2023, meetings of the 33 deputy chief prosecutors of the capital and the counties in the criminal law section were partly devoted to more effective action against hate crimes and the recognition, protection and respectful treatment of victims, as well as methodological issues in the supervision and management of investigations. On 9 October 2023, hate crime-related topics were discussed in a number of lectures.
Combating hate crime and protecting victims is also a frequent topic at the annual professional-scientific conference of the prosecution service. On 23 November 2023, a prosecutor of the Metropolitan Chief Prosecution Office gave a lecture on hate incidents at the conference.
On 3 July 2023, at the request of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Law Section of the Chief Prosecution Office of Pest County participated in a workshop discussion on "Victim-centred approach and intersectionality in the fight against hate crimes".
This category includes hate crimes recorded on the basis of ethnic affiliation, racial affiliation and belonging to another population group. This category may include offences that fall outside the OSCE hate crime definition.
One case of hate speech was reported but excluded as it falls outside the OSCE hate crime definition.
The category "Unspecified” covers offences of violence against a member of the community, the violation of personal freedom and coercion.
This category includes 17 hate crime cases committed with a bias based on sexual orientation and four hate crime cases committed with a bias based on gender identity.
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published relevant recommendations in its "European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) ‒ ECRI conclusions on the implementation of the recommendations in respect of Hungary subject to interim follow-up adopted on 3 July 2024 by ECRI at its 95th meeting (2-5 July 2024)".
ODIHR recognizes Hungary's efforts to enhance the capacity of police and prosecutors to respond to hate crimes. However, based on the available information, it observes that Hungary's hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Hungary would benefit from reviewing the existing legal framework to ensure that bias motivations can be effectively acknowledged and that appropriate penalties can be imposed on the perpetrators.
ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States agreed to a common definition of hate crime and committed to collecting reliable data and statistics on such crimes. To that end, hate crimes need to be distinguished from hate speech and extremist crimes throughout the recording and data collection processes. Participating States also committed to enacting specific, tailored legislation to combat hate crimes, providing for effective penalties that take into account the gravity of such crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Hungary in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as by providing further resources and tailored legislative advice.
🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.
🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.