The Council of Europe supported a working meeting to plan the format and methodology of hate crime data analysis in Georgia on 30-31 March 2023, gathering representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor’s Office, Special Investigative Service, Court and National Statistics Office. The analysis of hate crime data is important for understanding the main trends of hate crimes and to develop relevant responses, policies, and practice at national level.

An analysis of data collected during 2021-2022 and a future model of the analytical report of hate crime data and key recommendations were presented. The meeting participants planned their future steps regarding the analysis as well as the modification of the memorandum on hate crime data collection.

This meeting is part of series of activities aimed at improving the methodology of data collection and its analysis. Since September 2018, Council of Europe has been assisting stakeholders to improve hate crime data collection methodology. As a result of this process, guidelines regarding data collection methodology, specific guidelines, and data collection templates on hate crime in line with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommendations were developed. In 2020 a memorandum of cooperation on collection of data on hate crime was signed between the Supreme Court, the Office of the General Prosecutor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Statistics Office of Georgia. The working method to improve hate crime data collection involved interested state and non-state actors who contributed to the process.

This activity is implemented in the framework of the Project “Promoting the Effective Protection of Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia”. The Project is funded through the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.