The state victim support system operates under the professional guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Justice and rests on three pillars:
· the regional Victim Support Services,
· the Victim Support Centres,
· the Victim Support Hotline (116 006).
In Hungary, there are 20 regional (19 county and the capital) Victim Support Services, 20 Victim Support Centres and currently 7 Victim Support Points operating all over the country. The contact details of the regional Victim Support Services are available on the website http://www.kormanyhivatal.hu/. The Victim Support Centres and Points provide immediate assistance and information about your rights, available support options, and the authorities and organisations involved in victim support. Their contact details can be found at https://vansegitseg.im.gov.hu/.
The regional Victim Support Services which are operating in the county and capital government offices decide on the forms of support that require an official decision, while the competence of the Victim Support Centres and the Victim Support Hotline is limited to so-called soft services (assertion of interest). These soft services are available already before criminal proceedings are initiated (before a complaint is made) and are provided to victims until their situation is resolved after the crime. The Victim Support Centres work in close professional cooperation with the regional Victim Support and Legal Aid Services operating within the capital and county government offices.
Effective from 1st of January 2021, all assistance are available to victims free of charge, without means testing.
You can find further detailed information about victim support at https://igazsagugyiinformaciok.kormany.hu/aldozatsegito-szolgalat.
What support can you receive from the regional Victim Support Services?
Support requiring an official decision:
· state compensation – if you have become a victim of an intentional violent crime against a person.
· immediate financial assistance – if you submit an application within 8 days of the crime.
· certification of victim status – which may be important in certain procedures.
In addition, within the framework of legal aid, government offices provide free legal advice in simpler cases. If you are in financial need, they may also provide legal services by a legal aid assistant (e.g. drafting documents) outside criminal proceedings, and legal representation by legal aid lawyer in criminal proceedings.
What assistance can you receive at the Victim Support Centres?
The Victim Support Centres provide holistic support tailored to your individual needs. Assistance may include, among others:
· emotional support and psychological assistance, including the organisation of immediate intervention in crisis situations,
· follow-up of cases and referral to appropriate services,
· comprehensive information on your rights and available options, and
· legal advice in simpler cases.
The Centres also pay special attention to victims with special needs (e.g. children, victims of human trafficking) and facilitate their access to various services.
How can the Victim Support Hotline (116 006) help you?
If you have become a victim of a crime, you can receive information and assistance free of charge via the Victim Support Hotline, available 24 hours a day.
By calling the number:
· you can receive legal information and advice about your rights and obligations in criminal proceedings,
· you can obtain information about available support and the conditions for accessing it,
· you can receive emotional support if needed,
· you can be connected to the nearest Victim Support Centre.
Does the police automatically refer victims to support services?
If you turn to the police as a victim of a crime, you will receive written information from the police about the competent victim support service. They will draw your attention to the available victim support options and inform you that, upon your request, the police will issue
the certificate required to access these services and either hand it to you or forward it to the competent victim support service.
It is important to note that from 1 January 2021, the so-called “opt-out” system has been introduced, the purpose of which is to enable victim support services to contact you directly.
In the case of certain crimes defined by law (e.g. intentional violent crimes against a person; corrupting a child; sexual abuse; promoting prostitution; exploitation of child prostitution; harassment; robbery of a vulnerable person; theft committed for a value up to the infraction threshold or the criminal offence of theft committed for a smaller value), you may declare at the police whether you wish to be contacted by the victim support services
