People in the European Union (EU) experience hatred
on a daily basis, as evidence collected by the EU Agency
for Fundamental Rights (FRA) consistently shows.
Yet hate crime and hate-motivated harassment often
remain invisible in official statistics, and thus outside of
the public consciousness. While EU-wide surveys – such
as those FRA conducts – provide essential evidence on
the prevalence, nature and impact of experiences with
hatred on victims, their families, communities and on
broader society, such comparative data can only tell
part of the story (see Chapter 4 on crime victimisation
surveys and FRA surveys).
Statistics and other information for each EU Member
State are needed to provide a more complete and
accurate picture of the situation on the ground. This
can be aided by a growing awareness among legislators,
policymakers and law enforcement agencies that
improving the recording of hate crime, as well as collecting
robust and reliable data on the phenomenon,
is essential if they are to meet obligations and commitments
they have made towards combating prejudice
and fostering inclusive societies. This includes
acknowledging that active cooperation between law
enforcement agencies and civil society organisations
in the field can lead to better support for victims of
hate crime.