The EU High-Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime has, since its establishment in 2016, fostered expert discussions between Member State authorities, international organisations and civil society organisations on combating hate speech and hate crime. The High-Level Group has organised its work along four focus areas: hate crime recording, reporting and data collection; hate crime training and capacity building for national law enforcement; hate crime victims’ support; countering hate speech online.
The dedicated working group on hate crime reporting, recording and data collection is coordinated by FRA. Its principal objective is to support national efforts in putting in place effective victim-centred reporting mechanisms; ensuring proper recording of hate crimes and improving national data collection systems.
Hate crimes are illegal under EU law and constitute a grave abuse of a person’s dignity, inherent to all human beings. The EU has adopted legislation to combat hate crime and ensure that victims access justice and seek redress, in line with EU treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Key pieces of legislation are the 2008 Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia and the Victims’ Rights Directive.
The 2023 Commission Communication on 'No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred' aims to increase efforts to fight hatred in all its forms, by reinforcing action across a variety of policies, including security, digital, education and culture.
The EU High-Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime and its working groups aim to support Member States in their efforts to deliver on their duties under EU and international human rights laws to ensure access to justice for all victims of hate crime, protect and support victims, and investigate and punish hate crime.
FRA leads the working group on hate crime reporting, recording and data collection. The working group operates in synergy with the other work streams under the EU High-Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime.
FRA, as facilitator of the working group, delivers technical assistance to national authorities for improving hate crime recording and data collection and supports Member States to encourage reporting of hate crime and improve inter-agency cooperation and cooperation with civil society organisations.
At present, the working group has developed three sets of key guiding principles addressing:
The members of the FRA led working group on hate crime reporting, recording and data collection are:
Other international organisations, relevant EU bodies and agencies, national human rights bodies or civil society organisations are invited to contribute on a case-by-case basis.
