Tolerance and non-discrimination ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarcˇicˇ (left) and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Konstantin Zhigalov at the High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, Astana, 29 June. (OSCE/Velimir Alic) effective responses and strategies or to target resources properly. To help address this dearth of information, in 2010 ODIHR continued its activities as a collection point for hate crime data. As in previous years, the main activity in this area was the publication of the annual report on hate crime, and the report published in 2010 showed that there are significant gaps in data collection in most participating States. For the years 2008 and 2009, a total of 47 participating States indicated that they collect some data on hate crimes. Only 31 of those states, however, submitted data on hate crimes committed within their jurisdiction in 2009. The report also emphasizes the need to record, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes and to strengthen co-operation with civil society to complement government efforts. The third annual meeting of the National Points of Contact on hate crime was held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 November, on the occasion of International Tolerance Day. The National Points of Contact are responsible for providing information on hate crimes, such as the number of these crimes reported and updates on relevant legislation and policies designed to combat and prevent such crimes. Participants exchanged experiences on ways to improve data-collection methods and the tracking of hate crime cases at all stages of the 48 ODIHR Annual Report 2010 criminal justice process, from policing to prosecution and on to sentencing. While the lack of information remains a significant barrier for efforts to combat hate crime, ODIHR continues to seek other ways to help compile information. In March, for example, ODIHR organized its second training event on hate crimes and methods of reporting for the staff of OSCE field operations, the International Organization for Migration and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As a result of this initiative, ODIHR gained access to greater and more detailed information about hate-related incidents from its international partners. Additionally, ODIHR received a request from the UNHCR to prepare guidelines for its staff on how to monitor and report on hate crimes and incidents. Awareness Raising In 2010, ODIHR conducted hate crime workshops in Ankara, Belgrade, Chisinau and Sarajevo, for a wide range of participants, including OSCE field staff, state officials, and law-enforcement and civil society representatives. ODIHR also made presentations in Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to raise the awareness of civil society on hate crime and to encourage a variety of approaches to addressing the problem.