Senior police officers responsible for overseeing hate crime investigations from across Hungary took part in a capacity-building activity held in Budapest on 8-9 October 2026, organised by the Roma and Traveller Division, in cooperation with the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the Hungarian authorities.
The initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of the police to effectively identify, investigate and respond to racially motivated crimes, with particular attention to offences targeting Roma and Traveller communities. Through discussions on prejudice, stereotyping and antigypsyism, participants explored how Council of Europe standards and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights can be translated into daily policing practice.
As part of ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Balázs v. Hungary group of cases, participants discussed the standards and safeguards required for the effective investigation of crimes motivated by racial prejudice. They also exchanged experiences and practices on addressing hate crime and explored ways to strengthen institutional responses and improve the protection of victims.
The event also provided a platform for dialogue between senior police officers, representatives of the judiciary and civil society organisations. Discussions highlighted the importance of cooperation with Roma communities, ensuring accountability for and the effective investigation of racially motivated violence.
By equipping experienced police officers with practical tools and expertise that can be further disseminated within their services, this initiative contributes to ongoing efforts to combat racism, discrimination and antigypsyism, while strengthening the protection of the human rights of Roma and Travellers in Hungary.
2nd edition of the Toolkit for Police Officers: Council of Europe standards on racially motivated crimes and non-discrimination (2022)│BG│DE│EL│ HU│IT│RO│SK
Thematic factsheet on Hate Crime and Hate Speech
