Scorecard on Hate Crime Response in the OSCE Region

Violent hate crime continues to be a serious human rights problem in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region. The rise of far-right groups, which are exploiting the refugee crisis and economic distress, contributed to a wave of xenophobic violence. Openly anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, racist, and homophobic far-right political parties have gained strength in local and national elections, particularly in Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, and France. Disturbingly, their involvement in racist violence has not stopped their ascendance. Most stunning is the case of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party in Greece, which polled third in national elections in September 2015 even though its entire leadership is on trial for its role in dozens of violent attacks—including murders—targeting migrants and others.