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Description
The project addresses the main problems with hate crimes and violent extremism, particularly against Roma. The project will enhance the cooperation between law enforcement authorities and non-governmental organisations. International best practices and expertise regarding prevention and countering hate crimes will be transferred to Romania, through cooperation with the Norwegian University Police College and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The project will, inter alia, include the following main activities:
- Capacity building and transfer of knowledge through training seminars and workshops;
- Awareness raising and anti-victimization campaigns targeting both specialized audience and the general public;
- Establishment of an anti-hate crime unit within the Romanian police,
- Provision of identity registration to undocumented persons in the Roma population;
- Drafting legal procedures related to police accountability and
- Measures to increase access to basic human rights for the Roma population.
Summary of project results
The project addressed social inclusion and equality, focusing on hate crime against the Roma population. A multi-faceted approach combated intolerance, racism and xenophobia through awareness campaigns, victim support and improved cooperation between law enforcement, NGOs and vulnerable groups. Promoting equal opportunities and increasing transparency and accountability aimed to foster a more inclusive society.
This project conducted a range of activities focused on combating hate crimes, producing the following outputs:
Strengthening Investigative Capacity (A1): The project established and equipped a Hate Crime Unit (HCU) and provided specialized training to its officers, increasing the number of officers working in specialized anti-hate crime units (Output 3.1.2). It also improved data collection through an updated National Incident Reporting System and training on its use, along with providing new technology. These activities facilitated a higher number of cases investigated by the HCU. Outreach and training efforts contributed to a rise in citizen-submitted petitions related to hate crimes (Output 3.1.1).
Improving Police Service and Equal Opportunities (A2): The project procured and distributed 1,284 body-worn cameras (BWCs), resulting in an increased number of BWCs in service (Output 3.4). Twenty experts conducted study visits to similar European institutions, focusing on equal opportunity recruitment practices. This led to the development of a legal and procedural framework for BWC use (Output 3.5).
Public Policies and International Standards (A3): Sixty-six police officers from the HCU and county inspectorates received training from the Council of Europe, increasing the number of professionals trained in anti-hate crimes and combating violent extremism (Output 3.3).
Academic Exchange (A4): Collaboration between the "Al. I. Cuza" Police Academy and Oslo Police University College, through workshops and a study visit, resulted in the development of a draft curriculum for hate crime studies at the Police Academy.
Integrating Hate Crimes into Training (A5): The project developed training materials on hate crime in collaboration with the Police Academy, Oslo Police University College, and the HCU. A dedicated, well-equipped classroom was created at the Police Academy for hate crime studies, and the training materials were printed and distributed to police agent schools. This activity also contributed to the increased number of officers working in specialized anti-hate crime units (Output 3.1.2).
Expertise Transfer (A6): Twenty police officers from the Special Operations Directorate (SOD) and ten SOD trainers received training in human intelligence management, followed by a dissemination conference. An online exchange of good practices on body-worn camera usage, reaching 815 police officers, was conducted. Seventy-five police officers participated in three specialized training sessions on hate crime investigation. These activities contributed to the increased number of professionals trained in anti-hate crimes and combating violent extremism (Output 3.3).
Opinion Polls (A7): Two studies, involving field data collection, were conducted by the Life Quality Research Institute, focusing on public and Roma perceptions of victimization, discriminatory crimes, and police performance. This resulted in completed comparative surveys of non-Roma and Roma populations (Output 3.8).
International Exchange (A8): An international conference with 77 participants fostered networking between Romanian specialists, international actors, and civil society representatives.
Organizational Efficiency (A9): Sixty-four police officers received training in project management.
Hate Crime Training (A10): Two hundred front-line practitioners received training, increasing the number of professionals trained in anti-hate crimes and combating violent extremism (Output 3.3).
Transfer of Expertise (A11): Eighteen representatives participated in five study visits to European law enforcement agencies, followed by two dissemination sessions at the "Mihai Viteazul" Application School, training 50 Romanian Gendarmerie personnel. This activity also contributed to the increased number of professionals trained in anti-hate crimes and combating violent extremism (Output 3.3).
Raising Awareness (A12): A national conference, attended by 70 leaders, disseminated information about hate crime initiatives and HCU attributions. A workshop with 36 participants, including public authorities and NGOs, was conducted. These activities increased the number of professionals trained in anti-hate crimes and combating violent extremism (Output 3.3).
Anti-Victimization Campaign (A13): The Civic Union of Young Roma (CUYRR) organized community meetings and distributed approximately 10,000 flyers in each Romanian county, supporting the number of counties in which human rights services were provided to Roma (Output 3.6). Counseling was provided to 2,145 people, and over 25,000 people were reached through social networks and meetings (Output 3.7.2). The project conducted awareness campaigns (Output 3.7.1). Assistance was provided to 1,041 people in obtaining identity documents, increasing the number of identity/civil registration documents provided (Output 3.2.2).
Public Awareness (A14): A communication campaign on combating discrimination was conducted (Output 3.7.1), and campaign materials were broadcast (Output 3.7.2). A workshop on improving police public communication skills was conducted.
Promoting Police Profession (A15): Twelve information sessions were held for 240 young Roma, who received visibility and informational materials.
This project aimed to strengthen the Romanian police''s capacity to investigate and combat hate crimes, particularly those affecting Roma communities.
Strengthening Investigative Capacity (A1): Established and equipped a Hate Crime Unit (HCU) within GIRP. Provided training on hate crime (including sessions with Norwegian specialists, OSCE training, and study visits), a statistics course, updated the National Incident Reporting System, and distributed computers to police stations.
- Outcomes: Increased number of cases investigated by the HCU (Outcome 3.1) and improved trust in the police among Roma communities (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Enhanced ability of the police to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, leading to greater accountability and protection for Roma communities.
- Beneficiaries: Roma communities, HCU officers, other police officers, and the Romanian justice system.
Improving Police Service (A2): Procured and distributed body-worn cameras and conducted study visits to research recruitment practices.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Increased transparency and accountability of police interactions, potentially reducing instances of misconduct and building trust with the communities they serve.
- Beneficiaries: Roma communities, other communities, police officers.
Public Policies (A3): Trained 66 officers from the HCU and county inspectorates by Council of Europe experts.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Improved understanding and application of anti-hate crime policies and procedures within the police force.
- Beneficiaries: Roma communities, other communities, police officers.
Academic Exchange (A4): Collaboration between the Romanian Police Academy and Oslo Police University College on workshops and a study visit, resulting in a draft curriculum for hate crime studies.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Enhanced educational resources and expertise on hate crime within the Romanian police training system.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers, police academy instructors, researchers.
Hate Crimes Training (A5): Collaboration between the Police Academy, Oslo Police University College, and the HCU to develop training materials and equip a dedicated classroom.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Improved training and education of police officers on hate crime issues.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers.
Expertise Transfer (A6): Provided training opportunities, including human intelligence management training for SOD specialists, a train-the-trainer session, an online session on body-worn cameras, and specialized training in hate crime investigation.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Enhanced expertise within the police force in various areas relevant to combating hate crime.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers, SOD specialists.
Opinion Polls (A7): Conducted two studies on victimization and police-community relations.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Provided data and insights into public perceptions of the police and victimization, informing policy and practice.
- Beneficiaries: Researchers, policymakers, police, Roma communities.
International Exchange (A8): Held an international conference on hate crime prevention.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Facilitated the exchange of expertise and best practices on hate crime prevention.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers, other professionals working in the field of hate crime.
Organizational Efficiency (A9): Provided project management training and a project implementation workshop.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Improved management and implementation of projects related to combating hate crime.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers involved in project management.
Hate Crime Training (A10): Trained 200 frontline practitioners.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Enhanced capacity of frontline police officers to recognize and respond to hate crimes.
- Beneficiaries: Frontline police officers.
Public Event Management (A11): Conducted study visits to law enforcement agencies and dissemination sessions.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Improved skills in managing public events and disseminating information related to hate crime.
- Beneficiaries: Police officers involved in public event management.
Raising Awareness (A12): Held a national conference and a workshop on hate crime.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Increased awareness of hate crime issues among key stakeholders.
- Beneficiaries: Public authorities, NGOs, community leaders.
Anti-Victimization Campaign (A13): Organized a campaign providing counselling, outreach and assistance with obtaining identity documents.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Provided direct support to victims of hate crime and increased access to essential services.
- Beneficiaries: Roma communities, victims of hate crime.
Public Awareness (A14): Implemented a communication campaign and a workshop on public communication skills.
- Outcomes: Increased trust in the police (Outcome 3.2).
- Impact: Increased public awareness of hate crime issues and police efforts to address them.
- Beneficiaries: General public.
Promoting Police Profession (A15): Held information sessions for young Roma.
- Impact: Encouraged young Roma to consider a career in law enforcement, potentially increasing diversity within the police force.
- Beneficiaries: Young Roma individuals.
Summary of bilateral results
Bilateral collaboration with our Norwegian partners from the Oslo PD was essential to the project''s success, resulting in several notable achievements:I. Expertise and Know-How Transfer:Direct meetings between IGPR/DIC specialists and their Norwegian counterparts facilitated the exchange of experience in investigating hate crimes, statistical data collection, and collaboration with civil society and vulnerable communities.Four workshops organized jointly with Oslo PD (three online and one in Norway) brought together 51 Romanian police officers at each event, contributing to their skill development in investigating hate crimes.Five online experience-sharing sessions with Norwegian police officers further explored the topics covered in the workshops.A study visit to Rome, alongside partners from Oslo PD, provided Romanian investigators with a comparative perspective on hate crime investigation methods.II. Project Activity Involvement:Oslo PD was actively involved in organizing and participating in various project activities (A.1.1., A.1.4., A.4., A.6.4., A.8., A.15.), bringing Norwegian expertise to the fight against hate crimes.Oslo PD and Oslo PHS actively collaborated with the Police Academy on organizing activities, contributing to their greater complementarity.Representatives from PICCJ and Oslo PD participated in training sessions (A.6.4.), facilitating the exchange of experience and best practices between Romanian and Norwegian prosecutors regarding evidence management and the prosecution of hate crimes.Oslo PD participated in an information event dedicated to young people, promoting the police profession and the importance of combating discrimination.