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Once Upon a Support: A 35-Year Story of the European Day for Victims of Crime

Every year, Victim Support Europe commemorates the European Day for Victims of Crime, a day dedicated to advocating for progress in and legal improvement of comprehensive support for all victims of crime, regardless of the crime or the victim.  

In 2025, this event is a poignant and reflective occasion aimed at commemorating both the European Day for Victims of Crime and the 35th anniversary of Victim Support Europe’s dedication to supporting victims. This event, co-organised with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, unites victims, activists, victim support professionals, and high-level stakeholders to celebrate the resilience of crime victims and highlight the essential role of support in their recovery journey. Through storytelling and panel discussions, the event highlights the progress made in victim advocacy over the past three decades while shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by victims across Europe. The celebration also serves as a moment of solidarity, reaffirming VSE’s commitment to raising awareness, providing resources, and championing the rights of crime victims.

PRACTICALITIES

WHEN?
The event will take place on 21 February 2024, from 09:30am til 1:45pm CET.

WHERE? 
The Press Club Brussels
Rue Froissart 95
1040 Brussels 

LIVE BROADCASTING 
The event will be broadcast live via the Press Club YouTube channel.

REGISTRATION
Registration is now open via this form. Please note registration closes on Monday, February 17th at 17:00 CET. 

Programme

PROGRAMME

21.02.2024 09:30 – 13:45 CET
Venue: The Brussels Press Club

 

Time Topic
08:45 – 09:30 Welcome Coffee
09:30 – 10:15 Chapter 1: The Prologue

  • Michael McGrath | EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection (recorded welcome speech)
  • Zuzanna Rudzińska-Bluszcz | Deputy Minister of Justice of Poland, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
  • Katarzyna Janicka-Pawlowska | Coordinator for Victims’ Rights, European Commission
  • Rosa Jansen | President, Victim Support Europe 
10:15 – 10:30 Chapter 2: From Grassroots to Global Impact – 25 Years on the Frontlines of Victim Support

  • Helgard van Hüllen | former Vice President of Victim Support Europe, chair of Landesbüro Bayern-Süd of Weisser Ring
10:30 – 10:45 Live Testimony

  • Guillaume Denoix de Saint Marc | Vice President, V-Europe
10:45 – 11:45 Chapter 3: The Beginning of a Movement – From Grassroot Support to International Commitment

Moderator: Antony Pemberton | Professor of Restorative Justice at KU Leuven and Professor of Victimology at Tilburg University, the Netherlands

  • João Lázaro | President, The Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) 
  • Leena-Kaisa Åberg | Executive Director, Victim Support Finland (RIKU)
  • Anna Giudice | United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
11:45 – 12:30 Lunch Break
12:30 – 13:35 Chapter 4: Writing the Next Chapter – Reforming the Victims’ Rights Directive

Moderator: Aleksandra Ivankovic Deputy Director, Victim Support Europe

  • Sławomir Buczma | Justice Counsellor, Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union
  • Katarzyna Janicka-Pawlowska | Coordinator for Victims’ Rights, European Commission
  • Levent Altan | Executive Director, Victim Support Europe
13:35 – 13:45 Chapter 5: The Epilogue – Looking to the Horizon

  • Levent Altan | Executive Director, Victim Support Europe

Who is conducting the campaign?

Victim Support Europe (VSE), the leading European umbrella organisation advocating on behalf of all victims of crime, has developed Once Upon a Support: A 35-Year Story of the European Day for Victims of Crime. The event is co-organised with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

We have partnered with civil society organisations, various project participants, member organisations and experts in the field of victims’ rights to tell the crucial story of the past 35 years, while also looking toward the future.

If you have any further question or you would like to contribute to ​Once Upon a Support: A 35-Year Story of the European Day for Victims of Crime, you can contact: Dylan Power, d.power@victimsupporteurope.eu.

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Victim Support Europe and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

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