HATE CRIME – VIOLENCE OF BIGOTRY AND INTOLERANCE (The case of Republic of Macedonia)

Abstract

Hate crime can be every criminal act (murder, violence, as well as property damage) when the perpetrator chooses the objective of the penal act on the basis of real or assumed protected characteristics like race, religion, ethnic affiliation, language, etc. In other words, hate crime is every criminal act where the motive for its committing is based on certain prejudice and surely can be destructive to both individual freedoms and community safety. The clarification of the dilemma in terms of the formulation of the hate crime will also result in determining the optimal manners and forms of acting of the police officers in reporting such crimes.  

This article is referring to the legislation to combat hate crimes, which is very important. The act must be a crime under the criminal code of the legal jurisdiction in which it is committed.  Every country should be able to inform the authorities about existing legislation regarding crimes driven by intolerance and discrimination, and, where appropriate seek their assistance in the drafting and review of such legislation.  

In the years to come, hate crimes remains a serious problem, constituting a range of violence from intimidation, threats and vandalism to assault, arson and murder, in spite of all activities that were undertaken to combat discrimination, bigotry and intolerance.