and water canon) and the right to peaceful assembly (protest liaising and human rights standards). On 15-16 May, DHRC SMS organized two one-day trainings on Policing of Public Assemblies and Protection of Human Rights for 50 SOU officers. The officers discussed issues related to the freedom of peaceful assembly (Kosovo legal framework, human rights standards, protest control, engaging protestors, liaising with protestors, etc.). Furthermore, on 14-19 September, DHRC SMS organized a study visit to the Metropolitan Police, London, for nine commanding officers in charge of the SOU in order to further improve their knowledge of human rights and police ethics and learn how to integrate human rights and ethics considerations into their work, especially during management of critical incidents. DHRC SMS has been implementing a comprehensive programme in the area of combating hate crimes, continuing its focus on the KP as first responder to hate crimes. Following the DHRC SMS’s extensive advocacy efforts, the KP has included a module on combating hate crimes into both basic and advanced training for KP officers at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety. On 19-20 May, DHRC SMS organized two days of training on hate crime data collection mechanisms for 21 KP representatives. The lack of data collection on hate crimes was one of the main gaps identified through DHRC SMS’s monitoring of KP activities. The lack of official and reliable data on hate crimes in Kosovo prevents the KP to deal with the issue effectively, as without data they cannot identify the real nature and extent of the problem. This training was led by a hate crimes officer from ODIHR who discussed the importance of collecting hate crime data and introduced the participants to the ODIHR ten practical steps on hate crime data collection. The training concluded with a number of key actions being agreed on, including the need for updating current recording forms, which would facilitate the monitoring of hate crime provisions outlined in Kosovo legislation. On 27-28 May 2014, DHRC SMS organized a two-day training for 18 KP investigating officers and seven Kosovo prosecutors on hate crime investigations. The training resulted from a 2013 assessment of the KP’s understanding of hate crimes. This assessment highlighted that, while the KP’s understanding of hate crimes had improved since 2011, there were still issues concerning the actual investigation of hate crimes. The first day of the training looked at what a hate crime is before covering relevant international and regional standards, investigating hate crimes using bias indicators and the legal framework in Kosovo. The second day of the training focused on barriers and solutions to effectively prosecute hate crimes and the use of motive evidence. A number of concrete action points were developed between the participants and the trainers, which will enable DHRC SMS to address identified shortfalls. DHRC SMS also implemented several activities in the newly established Kosovo Police (KP) Region Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, which includes four police stations: Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, ZubinPotok, Leposavić/Leposaviq and Zvečan/Zveçan. SMS organized six sets of round tables, each set consisting of four round tables, i.e. one for each police station. These round tables were used to discuss the already identified human rights issues, conduct a needs assessment and provide human rights capacity building for newly integrated officers. The topic discussed at the first two rounds, held in May and June, was the Kosovo Criminal Procedure Code (KCPC) and its practical implications for their work. The officers learned, among others issues, about the KCPC provisions relevant to their work, such as arrest and detention, police investigation and questioning of suspects and witnesses. The third and fourth rounds were organized in September and October. The participants learned about the Kosovo Law on Public Peace and Order and its practical implications for their work. The sessions were attended by minor offence judges, who answered the officers’ questions related to the law as well as explained the importance of taking all relevant data from suspects, technical procedures related to processing of traffic offences and how to proceed in cases related to violations of public peace and order (e.g. related to working hours of café bars). 81