Project
STARS: Comprehensive Support for Hate Crime Victims
Quick links
- Project period:
- 29 Nov 2023 (STARS I) and 3 Feb 2026 (STARS II) - 28 Nov 2025 (STARS I) and 2 Feb 2028 (STARS II)
- Implemented by:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
- Fields of work:
- Tolerance and non-discrimination
Overview
Supporting victims of hate crime is essential to an effective response to it — yet it is often overlooked.
In many OSCE participating States, support systems are still limited or do not exist.
ODIHR’s Strengthening Targeted Assistance and Response Structures for Hate Crime Victims in the OSCE Region (STARS) project works to improve how victims are identified, supported and protected.
Delivered in close co-operation with the European Commission, STARS brings together practical tools, training and good practices to strengthen victim support across the 27 EU countries and the wider OSCE region.
How STARS has evolved
ODIHR’s work on hate crime victim support has developed step by step.
It began with the Enhancing Stakeholder Awareness and Resources for Hate Crime Victim Support (EStAR) project, which helped build a shared understanding of victims’ needs and the support available.
This work continued with STARS, the programme presented on this page.
STARS I, 29 November 2023 – 28 November 2025, expanded activities across the EU and the wider OSCE region, focusing on practical tools, training and the exchange of good practices.
STARS II is now underway, 3 February 2026 - 2 February 2028, building on these results to strengthen support systems and address remaining gaps.
What we do
The project works in three areas.
✅ Supporting first responders
We work with practitioners to understand victims’ needs. We develop training to help first responders assess those needs and respond in a clear and respectful way.
✅ Strengthening the justice system
We train prosecutors to recognise and qualify hate crimes in law, including cases linked to criminalised “hate speech”. This includes pilot training and work under ODIHR’s Prosecutors and Hate Crimes Training (PAHCT) programme.
✅ Connecting people and sharing practice
We bring experts together to share experience and improve responses across countries. We run a network of specialists and organise discussions, workshops and events to exchange practical knowledge.
Working group
The STARS project co-ordinates the Working Group on Hate Crime Victim Support under the European Commission High Level Group on combating hate speech and hate crime.
Through this role, ODIHR brings together governments, civil society and international partners to improve how hate crime victims are identified, supported and protected across Europe.
Resources and tools
STARS develops practical tools to improve support for victims of hate crime.
Two key resources are available below.
✅ One helps authorities involve victims in shaping hate crime policies, so their experiences are heard and reflected in decisions.
✅ The other shows how restorative justice can help address the harm caused by hate incidents and crimes.
Training and support
STARS draws on ODIHR’s wider work on hate crime victim support.
The resources below reflect this broader experience. They offer practical guidance on how victims should be treated in law and in practice.
ODIHR also works directly with people across the system. It trains criminal justice professionals and civil society organisations to support victims with care and respect. It also works with policymakers to strengthen national systems and close gaps in protection.
What we are developing now
ODIHR is expanding its work under STARS.
New tools and training are being developed, including support for prosecutors to better identify and qualify hate crimes in law, including cases linked to criminalised “hate speech”.
The project also creates spaces for exchange, bringing together practitioners to share experience and improve practice across countries.
Updates will be shared on this page and on ODIHR’s social media channels.
Get involved
If you would like to take part in STARS activities, contact hcvictimsupport@odihr.pl.