When it comes to international bodies for reporting hate speech, there isn’t a mechanism in place to send a report directly to the organisations or agencies. Normally they receive data from civil organisations or governments. After that, they make reports and case studies with the information and do action plans for countering hate speech. Institutions such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have developed recommendations, legal frameworks, and monitoring systems that help strengthen legislation, support victims, and promote awareness.

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is a leading international organisation promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. It was founded in 1949 and currently has 46 member states. It established the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and set up the European Court of Human Rights, both of which remain central to its mission of protecting fundamental freedoms. 

In 2022, the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation (CM/Rec (2022) 16) on Combating Hate Speech, a milestone document prepared by the Committee of Experts on Combating Hate Speech (ADI/MSI-DIS). The recommendation provides guidance to member states to implement a comprehensive set of legal and non-legal measures to prevent and counter hate speech. It is built on international human rights standards and case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The document also pays close attention to the online environment, where hate speech can be mostly found these days. The Committee of Experts (2020-2021) that adopted this important recommendation was established as a subordinate body to the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (CDADI) and the Steering Committee on Media Information Society (CDMSI). 

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) also monitors and counters hate speech. In 2015, it issued its General Policy Recommendation (GPR No. 15) on Combating Hate Speech. The document contains a list of recommended measures against hate speech, including in areas of legislation and policies, data collection, victim support, self-regulation, and counter-speech by people in positions of influence, like public officials, politicians, and religious leaders. The ECRI is a unique human rights expert body that monitors action against racism, discrimination, and intolerance in Europe. However, the body itself is not entitled to receive individual complaints, which are handled by the European Court of Human Rights. 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is an international court set up in 1959. It rules on individual or state applications alleging violations of the civil and political rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. Still, to file a complaint to the ECtHR, you must first exhaust all domestic remedies in your home country. It also rules  on issues like hate speech and incitement to violence. 

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organisation. It has 57 participating states from North America, Europe, and Asia. It acts as a forum for political dialogue and cooperative action on a wide range of security issues. 

The organisation has made commitments to addressing hate crime and hate speech, particularly through Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 on combating hate crime (2009) and 13/06 on combating intolerance and discrimination and promoting mutual respect and understanding (2006). The countries in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have committed to take different actions to address hate crime. The measures are based on these two documents and act through robust data collection and monitoring, an effective criminal justice response, cooperation with civil societies, and comprehensive support to hate crime victims. 

The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is its main institution for human rights. It provides support, assistance, and expertise to participating states and civil societies to address hate crime and other forms of intolerance. Every year the Office presents consistent and reliable information on notable incidents and policy responses from participating states, civil society organisations, and intergovernmental bodies on hate crime. The information and data are presented on their website and have been provided by National Points of Contact on Hate Crimes (NPCs), appointed by the governments of OSCE participating states. Incidents reported by civil society groups, intergovernmental organisations, and the Holy See are published and can be found on the same website. There is a dedicated page where users can search and export information by country, type of crime, and bias motivation. The incidents presented are not comprehensive and reflect the quantity of detailed information reported to ODIHR each year.

Hate speech remains a serious threat to human rights, social cohesion, and democratic values. While no single international body serves as a direct reporting mechanism, the combined efforts of institutions such as the Council of Europe, ECRI, the European Court of Human Rights, and the OSCE demonstrate a strong and coordinated commitment to addressing this challenge. Their work also underscores the importance of cooperation between governments, civil society, and international institutions in creating effective strategies against hate speech. Ultimately, combating hate speech requires not only legal measures but also long-term efforts to promote respect, inclusion, and dialogue across societies.