OSCE Mission supports Ombudsperson Institution raise awareness on hate crimes in Kosovo, encourage reporting

Hate crimes have serious consequences for individuals and communities, yet many such incidents go unreported. 

To raise public awareness and encourage reporting, the Ombudsperson Institution, with OSCE support, has launched a campaign focused on hate crimes. 

The campaign features a series of videos broadcast on Kosovo’s public broadcaster, RTK. They inform the public about the harmful effects of hate crimes, the services available to victims, and safe ways to report such incidents to relevant institutions, including the Ombudsperson Institution and the Kosovo Police. They also offer guidance on how victims can seek assistance and support.

“The videos serve as an important educational and informational resource, especially for young people, by raising public awareness about the consequences of hate speech, discrimination, and violence motivated by prejudice based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status,” said Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj. 

“Together with the OSCE Mission we are helping to build an inclusive society where every individual feels safe, respected, and equal before the law,” he added. 

In 2025, the Ombudsperson Institution received no official complaints related to hate incidents, while KP reported seven cases, raising concerns that cases may be going unreported. This lack of reporting makes it difficult to assess the true scale of the problem and to provide adequate support to victims. In response, a video campaign was launched to encourage reporting, build trust in institutions, and ensure that victims are aware of their rights. 

“Raising awareness alone is not enough,” said Ambassador Gerard McGurk, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “Understanding what constitutes a hate crime helps people recognize it, report it and prevent it from being repeated. While hate crimes may go unseen, their consequences will not.” 

By encouraging victims and the public to come forward, the campaign helps authorities collect more accurate data, essential for designing effective protection measures and ensuring that no victim is left without support.