Understanding Anti-Christian Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Christian Communities — A Practical Guide

Executive Summary

What are the challenges ahead?

Across the OSCE region, anti-Christian hate crimes target Christian women, men, boys and girls, as well as people or communities perceived to be Christian or associated with Christians. Christian institutions, including places of worship, cemeteries and monuments
are also targeted in acts of anti-Christian violence and vandalism.

Crimes motivated by intolerance against Christians profoundly impact not just the victims of specific attacks, but also the daily lives of Christian people and communities in a range of ways. The impact of anti-Christian hate crimes and the related security challenges on expressing Christian identity and Christian religious practice, community and social life can include:

• Reluctance to participate in religious services, distribute religious literature, identify publicly as Christian, openly discuss their faith or wear religious clothing or Christian symbols;
• Hesitation to organize and promote religious festivals, celebrations and other events due to fear of potential attacks;
• Increased investment in security measures for their places of worship, which can strain the resources of Christian communities and divert funds from religious, cultural and social activities;
• Cancellation of events and/or closure of social initiatives run by Christian organizations due to repeated targeting of Christian-run institutions and events;
  and
• Self-isolation from broader society due to persistent security challenges and lack of institutional support, or — in extreme cases — relocation of the community in search of safety and freedom to practice their religion.

Why is this of concern to participating states?

OSCE participating States have committed to recognize, record and report the anti-Christian bias motivation of hate crimes and have supported efforts by OSCE institutions to develop effective and comprehensive responses to hate crimes.

States have committed to take measures to “prevent intolerance, violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, including against Christians” as well as to “[a]dopt policies to promote respect and protection for places of worship and religious sites, religious monuments, cemeteries and shrines against vandalism and destruction.” Several Ministerial Council decisions have repeatedly reaffirmed the threat that hate crimes pose to the security of individuals and to social cohesion, as well as the potential for such crimes to lead to conflict and violence on a wider scale.

What can governments do?

Governments can take a range of measures to address the problem of anti-Christian hate crimes. They can:

• Acknowledge that anti-Christian hate crimes pose a serious threat not only to the security of individuals and communities but also more broadly to societal cohesion and security, requiring a prompt, coordinated and comprehensive response;
• Promptly and unequivocally condemn any anti-Christian hate crime and publicly express solidarity with the affected Christian communities;
• Develop comprehensive domestic education policies and strategies to address the root causes of intolerance against Christians;
• Implement awareness-raising campaigns and activities to strengthen understanding of intolerance against Christians;
• Promote, support and facilitate open and transparent interfaith and interreligious dialogue and partnerships in order to combat intolerance and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief, build relationships of openness and trust, and foster greater tolerance, mutual respect and understanding in society;
• Strengthen the collection, recording, sharing and analysis of data on anti-Christian hate crimes, including through legislation, policy development, improved recording mechanisms, training programmes, victimization surveys, data publication and ongoing evaluation.
• Cooperate with Christian communities and wider civil society to strengthen monitoring, recording and data sharing of hate crimes and hate incidents;
• Build trust with Christian communities by establishing two-way, open and transparent channels of communication and coordination;
• Support Christian communities in conducting risk assessments and implementing measures to strengthen their security and preparation for crises;
• Implement enhanced security and safety measures to protect Christian places of worship and other related facilities during periods of elevated risk;
  and
• Develop coherent and effective victim support systems in cooperation with civil
  society organizations to ensure that victims of anti-Christian hate crimes receive
  sensitive, respectful and comprehensive support.