Strengthening co-operation between law enforcement and religious communities and improving responses to hate crimes were at the centre of a two-day OSCE workshop that concluded in Sarajevo on 15 September 2026.
Organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the event brought together representatives of religious communities, law enforcement, civil society and international experts to discuss practical ways to prevent and respond to anti-Christian, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic hate crimes.
"In times when hate crimes are rising, it is important to address all of them in their specificity. We must increase the monitoring, awareness and training on this, and build trust and dialogue between religious communities and law enforcement through regular coordination and exchanges," said Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Palaver, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions.
Highlighting the broader impact of intolerance on society and institutions, Ambassador Evren Dağdelen Akgün, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, said: "Anti-Muslim hatred and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims are not only threats to Muslim communities; they are a test of equal citizenship and institutional credibility, as well as of safety and security across the OSCE region, and in the world."
The importance of effective state action in protecting religious communities was also emphasized by Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism. "Governments not only have an obligation to provide the security necessary for Jews to gather and worship safely, but also to address the broader climate in which such threats can take root," he said.
Participants examined challenges in identifying, reporting, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, and discussed ways to strengthen communication and trust between authorities and religious communities, particularly in areas where these communities are in the minority.
Drawing on ODIHR's practical guides on addressing anti-Christian, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic hate crimes, the workshop concluded by identifying effective measures to improve institutional responses and better address the security needs of religious communities in BiH.
