TOLERANCE AND NON-DISCRIMINATION Challenging Biases and Prejudices through Education Collecting and Disseminating Information about Hate Crime Education plays a critical role in preventing and addressing stereotypes, which are often at the root of bias-motivated incidents. Participating States have committed to establishing comprehensive educational policies to address intolerance and promote mutual respect and understanding. Of particular importance are awareness-raising initiatives for educators and policymakers about the significance of education in countering biases. Effective methodologies and practical tools that challenge existing practices and describe positive aspects of diverse societies are necessary to successfully combat prejudice and intolerance. Such initiatives are especially necessary when such stereotypes are being used by some to scapegoat ethnic or racial groups in times of economic crisis. Although there are comprehensive and longstanding commitments to collect and disseminate hate crime data, the lack of reliable information on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police and prosecuted in the courts remains a significant challenge. Information submitted to ODIHR over the cumulative period of 2008 to 2012 indicated that 51 participating States collect some data on hate crimes. However, only 27 participating States submitted data on hate crimes committed in their jurisdictions for the 2013 edition of ODIHR’s annual report Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses. The report highlighted that a lack of reliable and detailed information hampers effective policy formulation. The report listed a number of recommendations, emphasizing the need to identify, record, investigate and prosecute hate crimes and to strengthen collaboration with civil society to complement efforts by authorities to respond to hate crimes. ODIHR continued to develop the web version of its annual hate crime report. The website aims to provide easy access to the data and information on hate crime that ODIHR has received since 2009. In 2013, ODIHR consulted extensively on its draft practical guide on effective hate crime data collection and monitoring mechanisms. The guide aims to assist participating States in improving data collection and in overcoming the gap caused by the absence of reliable information on hate crime. On the occasion of International Tolerance Day, ODIHR organized the fifth meeting of the National Points of Contact on Combatting Hate Crime on 14 and 15 November in Warsaw. The National Points of Contact are nominated officials, who submit information on hate crime and responses to ODIHR, including the number of hate crimes recorded by the police, prosecution services and the courts, updates on ­relevant legislation and policies designed to combat and prevent such crimes. During the meeting, participants shared information about the practice and experience of their countries. They also commented on a draft version of ODIHR’s hate crime reporting website, which will be launched in 2014. ODIHR continues to work with other intergovernmental agencies to monitor hate crime incidents and responses. In 2013, ODIHR organized its fifth training event on hate crime monitoring and reporting methods for eight OSCE field operations and representatives from the International Organization ACTIVITIES In accordance with its mandate, ODIHR assists participating States and civil society in improving responses to hate crime, in protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief, and in promoting mutual respect and understanding. ODIHR’s programmes and awareness-raising initiatives to fight hate crime are comprehensive and inclusive. They aim to help law-enforcement agencies, government officials and civil society to effectively respond to hate crimes. ODIHR also focuses on the monitoring, collecting and dissemination of information on hate crimes and good practices, while its educational programmes aim to raise awareness and promote mutual respect and understanding. In 2013, activities were conducted in the following fields: ƻƻ Collecting and disseminating information about hate crime; ƻƻ Raising awareness of hate crime; ƻƻ Reviewing legislation; ƻƻ Supporting law-enforcement agencies; ƻƻ Supporting civil society; ƻƻ Responding to intolerance against Muslims; ƻƻ Responding to anti-Semitism; ƻƻ Raising awareness about intolerance against Christians; and ƻƻ Promoting freedom of religion or belief. ODIHR Annual Report 2013  /   53