Economic Optimism Reaches Its Highest Level

RISMEDIA, January 30, 2010—Since initiating its year-long study of global talent trends and strategies, Deloitte reveals in its latest research report that economic optimism has reached its highest level among surveyed executives since the study’s inception. According to Deloitte’s December 2009 survey, more than one-third of the 335 surveyed executives now believe the worst of the recession is behind us as companies look to move forward to find the right balance between offensive and defensive talent strategies.

“Looking into the recovery, companies can no longer depend on the recession as their primary retention strategy for keeping critical employees,” said Jeff Schwartz, principal, Human Capital, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “We expect executives to continue to shift their talent portfolios from ‘defensive’ measures, such as cutting headcount and focusing primarily on costs, to ‘offensive’ programs, including retention of critical leaders and workers and increased spending on training and development with a focus on leadership. In addition, our research shows that companies committed to world class leadership programs maintained their focus during the recession and are continuing to invest in developing new career paths for their top performers and to cherry-pick the best talent available in the marketplace.”

Since January 2009, Deloitte has been conducting a longitudinal survey to gauge how senior executives and talent managers are positioning their workforces, both in deep recession and emerging recovery. The results of the December survey- the final edition in Deloitte’s year-long, longitudinal survey of global talent trends and strategies- revealed the following key findings:

Companies are (Cautiously) Optimistic
In December, more than one-third (35%) of the executives surveyed predicted the worst of the economic crisis is behind us- the highest level of economic confidence since the survey began in January 2009. Cutting and managing costs remains the top strategic issue for the executives surveyed in December, just as it has in every previous survey. However, 50% of surveyed executives named “acquiring/serving/retaining” customers as a strategic issue capturing the most management attention.

Talent Priorities are Shifting, Albeit Slowly
Reducing employee headcount remained the leading current talent priority, ranked No. 1 by 35% of the executives and talent managers who participated in this survey, followed by retention (28%) and training and development (25%). A ranking of talent priorities over the next three months produced a virtual dead heat, with reducing employee headcount at 31%, training and development at 29% and retention at 27%. Heading into the first quarter of 2010, only 39% of talent managers and executives who participated in this survey anticipate additional layoffs in the next three months, compared to 51% who see no layoffs on the horizon.

Training and Development Yield World-Class Talent
More than four in 10 executives surveyed expect their companies to increase programs aimed at developing high potential employees (47%) and cultivating corporate leaders (43%). Nearly three-quarters of surveyed executives believe that leadership development was either critically important (27%) or very important (45%) at their companies. And, an overwhelming eight out of 10 either agreed (55%) or strongly agreed (25%) that their companies have a clear leadership development strategy. Despite near universal agreement on the importance of leadership programs, surveyed executives do not have a high sense of confidence about their efforts in this area. Only 10% of survey participants describe their leadership initiatives as “world-class across the board.”

Having a green home provides savings and peace-of-mind

January 29, 2010 -- When it comes to character, you just can’t beat the charm of an older home. Newly constructed homes however, come with their own unique assets, one of the most noteworthy of which is energy efficiency.

From the roof to the foundation, a number of innovative building practices often go into constructing today’s greenest homes.

Roof shingles for example, are now available in recycled materials. Environmentally friendly spray foam insulation, which can help prevent dampness, keep out pollutants and contribute to structural strength, is even partially made with recycled materials.

Roofs, walls and floors can be insulated as well with special structural panels that consist of two layers of board with insulating foam in between them. The forms that are used to mould a home’s poured concrete foundation can now also be found with insulating ability, and barriers that prevent dampness from rising into the foundation can be used at this stage of construction as well. Even exterior cladding is now insulated to offer greater energy efficiency.

If you prefer an older home though, there are many simple ways to make it more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Start with an Energy Star programmable thermostat that will save on heating and cooling costs when you’re not home. You can take this approach a step further by investing in a new high efficiency furnace or air conditioner. Adding insulation to the attic of your home will offer reduced energy costs for years to come as well.

A tank-less water heater will also save on energy costs by providing only the amount of heated water that you need rather than maintaining it in a cylinder.

Even making minor changes can have an impact, like choosing energy efficient light bulbs - Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are good and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are even better.

If you’re planning to make cosmetic changes to your home you can do your part for the environment by choosing wood flooring, and even carpet, made with recycled content. Look for low VOC paints and stains as well, which reduce the number of unstable, carbon-containing compounds that enter the air and react with other elements.

In the bathroom, you can keep more money in your pocket by installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets.

Replacing old windows with low-E argon-filled units that have the Energy Star symbol can make a dramatic difference to your home’s energy efficiency as well.

Changing your old appliances with new Energy Star machines is also a great way to reduce energy consumption while enhancing the overall appeal of your home.

Beyond enjoying the aesthetics, cost savings and fulfillment associated with helping the environment, you can also consider getting an energy audit to take full advantage of a number of government rebates for energy-saving home improvements. Please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com to learn more about them.

Regardless of the approach you choose, remember that nothing can substitute for good-old fashioned conservation. Remember that the energy you save today may well be the energy that is needed tomorrow.



Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

5 Resolutions to Create Real Estate Success in 2010

5 Resolutions to Create Real Estate Success in 2010
Industry Advisor by Jose Perez Print Article
RISMEDIA, January 18, 2010—Okay…it’s 2010 and the market has been killing me for the past two or three years. I am lucky to be here, I love what I do and I am determined to make it work. I am not going to keep doing things the same way because it has gotten me nowhere and it’s time for me to reinvent myself, my company and my agents.

I have finally figured out that it is not the market; it is me and there is no other choice. 2010 is when I am going to get started. Since this is a real estate publication, I won’t bore you with my other resolutions like losing weight, working out and all that. I am focusing on what I need to do this year because if I don’t, I am going to lose a lot of weight from not eating and have nothing but time on my hands to work out.

Here we go…

1. I am going to reinvent myself. I am not going to keep telling people how important all these things are yet not do them myself. I am going to reply to my e-mails right away; I am going to figure out LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., and really use these vehicles to get people comfortable with the value I represent. I am going to communicate with my agents the way they expect a broker in 2010 to do so.

2. I am going to make a commitment to Web 2.0. The first thing I am going to do is finally realize that Web 2.0 is not just about my website; it’s about how people view me and my company online. That means what we are all blogging, what we are all saying on the social media sites, how engaging our website is and how our website shouldn’t just be a brochure anymore.

3. I am going to finally get my arms around Internet lead management. I am tired of leaving money on the table and that is what I have allowed us to do for so long. It has to stop. NAR says that 48% of Internet leads go unanswered and it is probably worse than that at my company. We are just leaving it up to agents and we can do so much better for them and for us if we set our minds to it. It’s not “okay” to go on like this anymore.

4. I am going to let go of the old paradigms about what a real estate office is supposed to be. Every time I see empty desks and offices, I wonder what is wrong with me. Everyone is happy to meet at Starbucks and I still have 10,000 square feet. What is wrong with me?

5. I am going to make a real effort to recruit the agent of the future. I have no system; I don’t hold my people accountable and I don’t get the recruiting results I should. My agents’ average age is 50 plus. I have to install as many tools and systems into my recruiting effort as I do into my technology, listing presentations, etc. My people are my biggest asset, yet I spend less time, money and effort in recruiting the people that will take us to the next level and keep us viable five years from now.

If I don’t lose weight and exercise, I risk my health. If I don’t address the issues I mentioned above, I risk my business.

Jose Perez is the president of PCMS Consulting, a full service consulting, sales and management organization that specializes in real estate industry issues.

Murphy's Law and Real Estate agent

Real estate is not a short-term process. A real estate transaction is not a one-step transaction. A buyer inquiry is not an automatic appointment. A buyer appointment and home showing is not an automatic contract offer. A contract offer is not an automatic accepted and signed contract. A transaction in escrow is not an automatic closing and a commission paid. Likewise, a listing appointment and presentation is not an automatic signed listing. There is no guarantee that a listing will be shown and sold. There is no guarantee that an under contract listing will reach the closing table and a listing commission paid.

Real estate agents do not get paid for just showing up, like many had in the real estate market between 2002 and 2006. Buyers are not making full price and higher offers, and lenders are not providing mortgages to every buyer, regardless of the amount of the down payment and qualifying ratios. Listings are not selling within days. Real estate transactions in escrow are no longer automatic future closings.

I started thinking about Murphy’s Law and wondered how it could relate to the real estate professional and real estate transactions. In Googling the phrase ‘Murphy’s Law,’ these are some results that impact real estate and that the real estate agent must think about and plan for in their daily practices;
-If anything can go wrong, it will; it can, it should, it will be your fault, and everyone will know it.
-If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong first
-If anything cannot go wrong, it will anyway
-Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse
-If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something

It’s not Murphy’s Law causing all the problems, but the real estate agent and what they are doing or not doing that is contributing to not acquiring listings, not putting sale transactions into escrow or having escrow transactions fall through. When listings expire or sale transactions are cancelled, agents are truly working for nothing. Agents do not get paid because they just show up, have a real estate license and a driver’s license, are in the right place at the right time or just need the money.

Real estate agents get paid because they are able to obtain listing appointments and are able to prepare and present a marketing plan beneficial to home sellers. They are able to answer owner questions and overcome objections to list price and listing term during the presentation. They know how to market the home to obtain buyer inquiries and know how to market the home to MLS agents. They obtain and negotiate a contract offer to a signed contract, and then manage and process the transaction paying attention to all the details involved in getting the transaction to the closing table. Real estate agents get paid for what they know and what they do, or not paid because of what they don’t know or don’t do.

A real estate transaction involves various parties. There is the buyer and seller, the listing and selling agent, buyer and seller attorney, mortgage rep, processor and underwriter, appraiser, home inspector, termite inspector, title insurance company and various others. There are events which must occur, transaction timelines and contingencies which must be met, some which can provide an option to cancel or void the contractual agreement. Real estate agents work for nothing until the transaction closes.

Successful agents are getting paid because they are doing things other agents didn’t think to do, didn’t think they needed to do, don’t know how to do or won’t do, such as:

-Knowing that the computer is not just for searching MLS listings and email, and using it as a toolbox for creating buyer and seller presentation materials
-Knowing where their listing can be marketed on the Internet and knowing how to use statistics and the benefits of Internet marketing in their presentations
-Understanding that they are on stage every day, with every buyer and seller conversation and every appointment
-Using forms for buyer inquiries and appointments, listing appointments and forms for transaction processing
-Understanding the difference between mortgage pre-qualification and mortgage pre-approval
-Understanding the importance of FHA mortgages in the current mortgage market and meeting with their mortgage rep to obtain a better understanding of FHA mortgage qualifying and calculating Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
-Understanding that there is more to completing a contract offer than just filling in the blanks
-Understanding the home inspection starts with the agent’s showing of the home to the buyer
-Obtaining the seller disclosure prior to a second showing of the home or prior to the contract offer
-Understanding the importance of meeting the appraiser and providing comparable sales information, with factual notes about the comparables when known
-The importance of being present at the home inspection
-Realizing it is their transaction and not assuming the transaction will process itself without involvement and follow up
-And many other important to-do’s

Successful agents determine the level of success they would like to have in real estate, and do not let the real estate market dictate their success.

To be successful year in and year out, real estate agents need to have a plan and work that plan. They must know the real estate business and know that there is more to selling real estate than just showing houses. They must know local real estate statistics. They must know the real estate inventory. They must know what to say to buyers and sellers, how to say it and when to say it.
They must have presentation material for buyers and sellers. They must have a contact database and use it.. These are musts. That old saying: “If you continue to do what you are currently doing, you will continue to receive what you already have”.

These are musts. That old saying: “If you continue to do what you are currently doing, you will continue to receive what you already have”.

Property Assessment in Ontario

Property Assessment in Ontario
The Government of Ontario has made a number of changes to the property assessment system that went into effect in the 2009 property tax year. These changes include the introduction of a four-year assessment update cycle and a phase-in of assessment increases.
Currently, the assessed value of properties in Ontario is based on a January 1, 2008 valuation date. MPAC’s last province-wide assessment update took place in 2008 and was based on a January 1, 2008 valuation date.
To provide an additional level of property tax stability and predictability, the market increases in assessed value between 2005 and 2008 will be phased-in over four years. The phase-in program does not apply to decreases in assessed value. Any market decrease in the value of a property is applied immediately and reflected on your most recent Property Assessment Notice. The change in assessed values and the phased-in assessment values for the 2009 to 2012 property tax years are listed on the 2008 Notices. There is a difference between the 2008 Current Value Assessment (CVA) (the destination value) and the current year’s phase-in value. The current year (which can be 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012 taxation year) phase-in value is the assessed amount that the municipalities or the local tax authorities use to calculate the annual property taxes. An example of this is as follows:
Current year (2010) Phase-in CVA=$250,000
Total Municipal Tax Rate= 1 %
Total Municipal Tax burden = $250,000 x 1 %= $2,500.
The 2008 CVA is not used until 2012 since this is the destination value.
The municipalities/local taxing authorities set property tax rates and the province sets the education tax rate. MPAC’s assessed values are used to determine these taxes.
How MPAC Assesses Properties
MPAC’s mandated role is to accurately value and classify all Ontario properties in compliance with the Assessment Act and related regulations. To establish a property’s assessed value, MPAC analyzes property sales in a community to determine the CVA. This method is used by most assessment jurisdictions in Canada and throughout the world. When assessing a residential property, we look at all of the key features that affect market value. Five major factors usually account for 85% of the value: location; lot dimensions; living area; age of the structure(s), adjusted for any major renovations or additions; and quality of construction. Examples of other features that may affect a property’s value include: number of bathrooms; fireplaces; finished basements; garages and pools. Site features can also increase or decrease the assessed value of your property such as traffic patterns; being situated on a corner lot; and proximity to a golf course, hydro corridor, railway or green space.
For more information on how MPAC assesses property, please visit our website at www.mpac.ca.

Number of benefits to LEED-certified condos

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Number of benefits to LEED-certified condos


January 8, 2010 -- There’s no doubt that homebuyers are drawn to the luxury and in many cases, affordability, that condominiums offer. As a result, the GTA’s population is booming; it currently ranks as the fifth largest city region in North America behind Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. And it’s interesting to note that as the GTA grows up, it’s also going green.

From schools to office buildings, municipal facilities to retail outlets, buildings throughout the GTA are working to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

It is a rating system in which points are awarded for environmentally friendly building characteristics in five key areas: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

An internationally accepted third-party certification program, it provides building operators with tools to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance.

According to recent reports, the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC), the non-profit organization that implements LEED, has more than one thousand projects registered, with approximately one-third of all projects located in Ontario.

In Canada for only five years, the LEED program has been widely embraced and certainly by no one more than condominium developers.

To qualify for this coveted status today’s condominiums are built with energy efficient heating and cooling systems, low VOC paints and finishes, and low-E argon-filled windows.

You’ll also find innovative energy-saving ideas like rainwater collection facilities, motion sensor lighting in stairwells, and two-chute disposal systems for convenient recycling on every floor.

LEED condos feature individual suite controls that allow you to monitor and limit energy usage, all off switches, programmable thermostats and energy-efficient appliances.

Building amenities include lush rooftop gardens, individual storage units, covered parking for bicycles, close proximity to transit lines and direct access to car sharing company services.

If you’re drawn to the idea of owning a green home you’re not alone. In a Nielson Canada-wide survey of attitudes towards green homes 85 per cent of respondents claimed that certification of the home would play an important role in their buying decision and 82 per cent said they would be willing to invest more money in a home purchase if it was certified.

Beyond helping the environment, there are a number of other benefits to buying a LEED certified condominium. You’ll enjoy better indoor air quality, lower costs for water and electricity usage and likely, a more active lifestyle. You might even enjoy a lower home insurance premium and achieve higher resale value.

If you’re interested in finding out about the many benefits of LEED-certified condos, talk to a Greater Toronto REALTOR®.

Toronto Real Estate Board Members not only have access to up-to-the-minute data on resale housing, they also have special access to a database that contains detailed information on 95 per cent of all new construction developments in the GTA that are greater than 15 units in size.

Some REALTORS® have even pursued special training offered by the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers. Look for the ACCREDITED GREENAGENT™ and ACCREDITED GREENBROKER™ designations.

For more information on the home buying and selling process, neighbourhood profiles and the latest market statistics visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com



Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

Why Toronto REALTORS® are the envy of the world

Why our REALTORS® are the envy of the world

January 8, 2010 -- As the fifth largest city in North America, Toronto has many characteristics for which it is noted. Our city is home for example, to a number of world-renown cultural events; we have the world’s seventh largest stock exchange and a university that ranks amongst the top ten globally.

You may not be aware though, that Toronto also has a system for the purchase and sale of property that is admired internationally. In many countries, there is simply no equivalent to the Multiple Listing Service®, a sophisticated computer database of sold, expired and active listings accessed only by your REALTOR®.

As a professional association of more than 29,000 REALTORS®, the Toronto Real Estate Board operates our city’s Multiple Listing Service®, TorontoMLS, and in doing so, supports Greater Toronto REALTORS’® efforts to offer you outstanding service.

Established nearly 80 years ago, TREB has evolved through the decades to offer a range of services to its Members that include statistical updates on the market, Continuing Education sessions and access to land registry, assessment and new construction data.

You REALTOR® in turn, uses these and other tools to offer you professional counsel.

If for example, you intend to buy a home you can be registered in TREB’s Buyer Registry Service. It is a central repository in which your REALTOR® can register your housing preferences, providing their name as the contact. By registering your criteria in the BRS, your REALTOR® can get early notification from other REALTORS® when properties matching your preferences become available. You can also receive nightly notifications sent through the TorontoMLS prospect match function.

If you are planning on selling, your REALTOR® can use MLS® data to provide a comparative market analysis that will help you establish a realistic asking price for your home. In addition to listing your home on TorontoMLS, your REALTOR® can advertise general information about your home on public websites like TorontoRealEstateBoard.com, REALTOR.ca, your REALTOR’s® own website and those of other real estate professionals through formal agreements facilitated by TREB.

While their primary focus is helping you achieve a smooth and financially healthy transaction, Greater Toronto REALTORS® work to make our city a better place in many other ways as well.

REALTORS® advocate your interests on key legislative issues like property taxes, sales tax harmonization and land transfer taxes. They make direct contributions to GTA communities as well, providing REALTORS Care Foundation grants to 20 shelter-related charitable organizations this year alone. They also offer a helping hand to GTA schoolchildren, through the Children’s Breakfast Program, a joint venture between TREB and the Toronto District School Board’s Toronto Foundation for Student Success, they help to provide nutritious breakfasts to 1900 children in 11 different schools every week.

These are just a few of the reasons that the work of Greater Toronto REALTORS® is so highly regarded around the world. For more information on real estate in the GTA including market statistics, neighbourhood profiles and open house listings, please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com

8 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving for the New Year

8 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving for the New Year
By Eric Tyson
RISMEDIA, December 30, 2009—With 2010 right around the corner, what will you be looking forward to in the New Year? Buying your first home? Sending your last kid off to college? Or obsessing over your own personal mountain of debt, even more worrisome in this uncertain economy? It may feel like “Resolution Impossible,” but if you follow Eric Tyson’s advice, you’ll remember ‘10 as the year you finally took control of your financial future.

“While the situation is improving, Americans carry too much consumer debt,” says Tyson, author of Personal Finance for Dummies, 6th Edition.. “If you have credit card debt or auto loans, take some solace in the fact that you’re far from alone and that many others have overcome these hurdles. Consumer debt is not okay, particularly in a slow economy such as this one. It can damage your personal relationships and mental well-being, not to mention the stability of your financial future.”

Here are a few tips from Tyson that will help you improve your financial health in 2010:

Partake in a little self-reflection. A misaligned mindset toward spending and shopping—compulsive or otherwise—can severely affect your financial and personal well-being. If you think you might have a problem with shopping or spending, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

-Do I feel guilty about shopping?
-Is my shopping causing financial trouble?
-Is my shopping, spending, and accumulated debt leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion, fear, or depression?

Make a plan and stick to it. The reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is that we simply state the thing we want to improve and then never create a plan for helping us get from point A to point B. Most people don’t like to plan unless we’re talking about something fun, like a vacation. But actually, planning for your financial future is a little like planning a vacation. You’re organizing your money and time so that you get to do all the great things you want when you get there. Look at it that way, and you might actually enjoy the process.

Get rid of your four-wheeled debt. Too many people define necessities by what those around them have. A brand new car is not a necessity, although some people try to make it one by saying, “I need a way to get to work.” Guess what? There are plenty of far less expensive used cars out there that will also make it to your office. If you take out an auto loan to buy a car that you really can’t afford and you take a similar approach with other consumer items you don’t truly need, you’re going to have great difficulty saving money and accomplishing your goals. Moreover, you’ll probably feel stressed all the time—which is a poor trade-off for the (short-lived) “new car smell.”

Start making your purchases based on need, not emotion. It can be easy to give in to all of those advertisements telling us how much we “need” that new car, expensive gym membership, or trendy outfit. Marketers play on insecurities, fears, and guilt and suggest that you can feel better about yourself by buying their products. You won’t be able to overcome spending and consumer debt until you recognize these pressures and how they corrupt your buying decisions.

Research before you enter the store. Prior to going shopping for necessities that aren’t everyday purchases—say, a new refrigerator—do some research first. Your research will help you identify brands, models, and so on that are good values. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

Watch your food budget. Dine out less and keep stock of the groceries you already have. Learn to cook if you don’t know how. Try to keep a healthy inventory of groceries at home. This will minimize trips to the store and the need to impulsively dine out because your cupboard is bare. Try to do most of your shopping through discount warehouse-type stores, which offer low prices for buying in bulk, or grocery stores that offer bulk purchases. Saving on the amount you spend on food will help you put more money toward paying off your debt and eventually setting money aside for investments.

Become more energy efficient. Check out opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. Adding insulation and weather-stripping, installing water-saving devices, and reducing use of electrical appliances can pay for themselves in short order. Many utility companies will even do a free energy review or audit of your home and suggest money-saving ideas.

Watch what you are paying for insurance. Many people overspend on insurance by carrying coverage that’s unnecessary or that covers small potential losses. Coverage of small losses, such as $100 or $200, is not useful for most people since such a loss wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe.

“It won’t be easy getting out of debt, and it’s certainly not something you will be able to achieve overnight,” says Tyson. “Like losing weight, it’s something that takes constant dedication but has a great payoff in the end. Whenever you lose focus or feel like giving in, think about the wonderful benefits of financial well-being. Once you’re out of debt, the money you are able to invest will mushroom into substantial savings that will allow you to get more for your money,” concludes Tyson.

Stop hate crimes

- Hate crimes continue to be a serious problem in many OSCE participating States, concludes a report published by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today.

The report, launched on the occasion of International Tolerance Day, says there were numerous instances of intimidation, threats, vandalism, assault, arson and murder during 2008. It also stresses that the full extent of hate crimes remains obscured by a lack of reliable data.

"Hate crimes have become a frequent occurrence in many participating States. But, unfortunately, the scarcity of data on these crimes makes it difficult to assess the true scope and nature of the problem and to devise effective policies to combat hate crimes," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, ODIHR's Director.

The report, published annually, provides statistics and other information on the extent and types of hate crimes, as well as government responses. It is based on data received from OSCE participating States, inter-governmental agencies and civil society groups.

The report points out that there are significant gaps in data collection in most participating States. Some do not collect any statistics on hate crimes at all, while others do not make this data public. The report emphasizes the need to record, investigate and prosecute hate crime cases, improve data collection, and strengthen co-operation with civil society to complement government efforts.

OSCE participating States have adopted a wide range of commitments to combat hate crimes. These commitments were adopted in recognition that these crimes pose a potential threat to domestic and international security, as they can undermine societal cohesion and sow the seeds of conflict and wider-scale violence.