Since its creation in 2009, the European 116 006 Helpline for Victims of Crime is only available in 13 EU Member States. Neither Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia nor Spain offer their citizens a 116 006 helpline.
116 006 helplines offer victims of a crime a listening and caring ear when they need it the most.
Without access to 116 006, tens of thousands of victims feel alone and unheard, unable to take that first step towards recovery and justice.
In a joint statement, Victim Support Europe and 40 victim support organisations call on the European Commission, Council and Parliament to make the 116 006 helpline a requirement in all EU States, and to support Member States through EU funding, following the approach for the missing children helplines.
Proper funding for new and existing helplines is essential. In 2022, EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and Eric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals, French Minister for Justice called on all EU Member States “to make use of the 116 006 helplines for the benefit of their citizens, in the conviction that it is a necessary tool for providing information and care to victims”.
