OSCE publishes 2023 hate crimes report
On November 15, 2024, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released its 2023 Hate Crimes Report ahead of the International Day for Tolerance on November 16. The report compiles statistical and descriptive data on hate crime incidents across the 57 OSCE participating States, with 48 countries submitting official data.
The report, the most comprehensive of its kind globally, includes information on nearly 10,000 hate crime incidents reported in 47 participating States, contributed by 125 civil society organizations, the UNHCR, and OSCE field missions.
In Greece, the report notes that the police recorded 97 hate crimes in 2023, of which 22 led to convictions. ODIHR highlighted that inadequate legislation remains a significant barrier for prosecutors, preventing thorough investigation of some hate crimes. ODIHR emphasized the importance of recognizing the bias motives behind hate crimes to protect victims' rights and establish effective prevention policies.
Tea Jaliashvili, Acting ODIHR Director, described the report as the largest global dataset on hate crimes, vital for developing effective responses. She also praised civil society’s role as a key partner in combating intolerance across the OSCE region.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) contributed to the report, documenting hate-based attacks and speech targeting the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. Specific incidents included the desecration of the Qur'an in the Ilıca Mosque in Mustafçova, the vandalism of 20 gravestones in Narlıköy, and hate speech directed at Turkish candidates during the 2023 Greek general elections.
