VSE Shares Best Practices on Supporting Victims of Hate Crime at the 4th Congress on Inequality and Antidiscrimination
On Thursday, 16 October, VSE had the honour of contributing to the 4th Congress on Inequality and Antidiscrimination, organised by the Basque Government in Bilbao, Spain.
Our Policy & Advocacy Lead Efthymios Antonopoulos participated in the roundtable discussion panel “Models for assisting victims of discrimination and hate crimes”, moderated by Prof. Gema Varona Martinez, Director of the Basque Institute of Criminology and President of the World Society of Victimology.
The intervention, titled “Supporting victims of hate crime: Best practices – EU, regional, and NGOs perspectives”, explored practical approaches and shared insights from across Europe on ensuring victims receive timely, effective, and empathetic support. Key points highlighted included:
- Hate crime is a cross-cutting societal challenge affecting migrants, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
- Victims’ voices must guide responses: justice begins with those affected, not just with legislation.
- Safe and accessible reporting systems, individual needs assessments, and coordinated victim support are essential to restore trust, dignity, and hope.
- The EU’s Victims’ Rights Directive revision offers a historic opportunity to strengthen consistent, trauma-informed, and specialised support across Member States.
- NGOs play a pivotal role as trusted first responders, advocates, and educators, fostering community resilience and amplifying victims’ experiences.
- Intersectional approaches, and education are critical: early intervention, restorative justice, and public awareness campaigns can reduce harm before it occurs.
Because every act of care, every moment of empathy, and every platform for victims’ voices contributes to restoring dignity and building stronger, more inclusive societies.
This engagement highlights VSE’s commitment to empowering victims, promoting inclusive strategies, and fostering collaboration between EU institutions, NGOs, governments and local authorities in the fight against discrimination and hate crimes through victim-centric responses. Together, we continue to strengthen networks, exchange knowledge, and drive meaningful change for victims of crime across Europe.
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