New York, NY, April 20, 2012 … In response to a troubling rise in hate crimes in Europe, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joined in a meeting of experts in Brussels, Belgium, to analyze and address the lack of reporting of hate crimes and to draft guidelines for non-governmental organizations to enhance data collection in the E.U. 

The meeting took place April 17-20 as part of a European project called "Facing Facts!," which is coordinated by CEJI - A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe. Designed to improve the monitoring and recording of hate crimes and incidents throughout the E.U., the meeting included about a dozen experts from international and European agencies.

 "Hate crimes remain among the most underreported incidents in Europe," said Robert Trestan, ADL Civil Rights Counsel, who represented the League at the meeting. "Governments across the region have lacked transparency when it comes to reporting hate-motivated incidents. This project will provide civil organizations with the skills and knowledge to enhance reporting and prevent the problem from being ignored."

ADL has taken a leadership role in presenting resources and recommendations to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on confronting anti-Semitism, anti-bias education, hate crime data collection, combating youth violence, hate on the Internet and Holocaust education.

The League collaborated with OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in preparing key components of their tool-kit to help states address hate crime: A resource guide for community organizations on Preventing and Responding to Hate Crimes, and ODIHR's Hate Crime Laws: A Practical Guide, which provides practical advice for lawmakers, community organizations and law enforcement for responding to bias crimes. The most recent OSCE report, Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses, is available on the organization's Web site.

 "Facing Facts!" is also in partnership with the Community Security Trust; the Dutch Centre for Documentation and Information Israel; the Federation of Dutch Associations for the Integration of Homosexuality; and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Tran and Intersex Association.