A hate crime

A hate crime is when you are attacked or treated with hostility because of some aspect of your identity, such as disability, nationality or origin, disability, sexual or gender identity, belief or religion (including lack of religion). Hate crimes can also be directed at members of alternative subcultures, such as punks, goths, etc.

Such crimes can be committed anywhere: at home, on the street, at work, at school, university, at sports events, on social media, etc. A hate crime can manifest itself in threats, bullying, robbery, violence, breaking your property, etc. Offensive writings and offensive messages, as well as social media posts, may be circulated about you.

Hate crime is scary because it's not random. You are being attacked on a very personal level - because of who you are. Even if the hate crime is not accompanied by a real threat to your life, it can significantly affect your quality of life - cause anxiety, tension in the circle of loved ones, etc. Therefore, it is worth reporting a hate crime to the police in order to find a common solution and prevent the situation from escalating.

If the injured person wants to find answers to their questions and the other party admits their act, help can be found in restorative justice.

Seek help!

If you have experienced a hate crime, call the Social Insurance Board’s victim support helpline on 116 006 or the emergency services on 112. You can also chat online with victim support on www.palunabi.ee. Victim support workers are located in every county in Estonia. Find your nearest victim support worker or women’s support centre.