VIENNA, 19 March 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) launched a new tool today to help states combat hate crimes.

The 67-page book, titled Hate Crime Laws: A Practical Guide, is the first publication providing practical and easily accessible advice for lawmakers, civil society and law enforcement personnel involved in developing or implementing hate crime legislation.

"Hate crime laws serve two important functions. First, they send a clear message to offenders that society will not tolerate crimes committed on the basis of prejudice and intolerance. And secondly, they convey to victims and vulnerable communities that the criminal justice system serves to protect them," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of ODIHR.

"There is a growing appreciation by government authorities and communities of the benefits of monitoring and responding to hate crime," said Stacey Burdett, of the Anti-Defamation League, a non-governmental organization based in the United States which contributed to the guide.

"Effective hate crime laws do more than quantify or punish hate crime. They advance police-community partnerships and spark the development of prevention and education strategies to address not only hate crimes but the prejudice that motivates them."

The guide was developed by ODIHR in consultation with experts including judges, prosecutors, government officials, academics and civil society. These experts were drawn from across the OSCE region, resulting in a document which is relevant to a variety of legal systems and traditions.

The guide has already been used by ODIHR as the basis for legislative reviews and training. It has been translated into several languages, including French, Russian and German.

The launch was preceded by an expert workshop in Vienna and is part of a series of OSCE events marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, which will also include a roundtable discussion on racism and discrimination on 20 March.

Full text: http://www.osce.org/item/36877.html