New York, NY, December 16, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the government of Austria have agreed to continue and expand a program that provides Austrian law enforcement professionals with anti-bias training on hate crimes, victim assistance and community policing.

Under the new three-year contract, the League's Austrian law enforcement trainings will commence in January 2010 and continue through 2012.

"Austria has shown a strong commitment to sensitizing its entire police force to issues of bias and bigotry and in responding to hate crimes," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. 

"Just last week a rabbi was violently attacked on the street during a public menorah lighting ceremony in Vienna," said Mr. Foxman. "Such violent hate crimes are unacceptable in civil society, and serve as reminder of the need for law enforcement to be thoroughly equipped with the ability to identify and respond to criminal acts motivated by anti-Semitism or hatred.  This is something that the Austrian government clearly understands."

Since 2001, the League in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior has facilitated numerous anti-bias trainings in Austria reaching all levels of law enforcement professionals.  The trainings are mandatory for police recruits and professionals in all nine provinces in Austria.

The anti-bias trainings are provided by a cadre of facilitators made up of local law enforcement professionals and civilian trainers using materials developed by the League's award-winning A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute.  The trainers will deliver 30 trainings and two refresher trainings a year to Austrian police, administrative staff and offices dealing with asylum seekers.