Hate crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance or a person’s disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics are severe expressions of discrimination. In addition to violating individual victims’ rights, such crime weakens social cohesion and damages society as a whole.

EU and international human rights laws mandate EU Member States to combat hate crime effectively. But States cannot effectively deliver on these duties unless victims and witnesses come forward and report hate crime incidents to the competent authorities.