The Framework of Criminal Law

Legislation on Bias-motivated Violence

Bias-motivated Violent Crimes as Specific Offenses	Bias as an Express General Aggravating Factor	Bias as an Aggravating Factor in Specific Common Crimes
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Bias Types Covered by Provisions on Aggravating Circumstances

Race/National Origin/Ethnicity	Religion	Sexual Orientation	Gender	Disability	Other
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Bias as an Express General Aggravating Factor

The Criminal Code of Liechtenstein contains provisions that expressly enable the racist or other bias motives of the offender to be taken into account by the courts as an aggravating circumstance when sentencing.

In particular, article 33(5) stipulates that “racist, xenophobic, or other particularly reprehensible motives” are to be considered as aggravating circumstances.[1]

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[1] OSCE/ODIHR, “Liechtenstein: Hate Crimes,” Legislationline, http://www.legislationline.org/?tid=218&jid=31&less=false.

[2] ECRI, “Second Report on Liechtenstein,” adopted on June 28, 2002 and made public on April 15, 2003, para. 14.