PC/ADI-CH Committee of Experts on Hate Crime
The Committee of Experts is tasked with preparing a comprehensive draft Recommendation on combating hate crime.
This recommendation will be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers for discussion and possible adoption and provide non-binding guidance for member States. It will complement and advance existing Council of Europe and international standards in the area of hate crime and build on findings and recommendations by monitoring bodies and the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
The recommendation will take a comprehensive approach to the issues related to hate crime, in particular to proper investigation of those crimes and assistance to victims. It will also attempt to identify key contextual factors which lead to violence motivated by bias and prejudice in order to prevent and address this phenomenon.
The Committee will be supported in this process by a range of representatives from intergovernmental organisations, other international partners and civil society.
Due to the complex nature of hate crime, the Committee of Experts on Hate Crime is subordinated to two Steering Committees: the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) and the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI).
Addressing the causes and effects of hate crime is one of the most serious challenges that many societies face today. Hate crime threatens not just the individual targeted, or their community, but can represent a much greater threat to social cohesion, and to the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
