VICTIM SUPPORT EUROPE’S STRATEGY 2026

VSE President’s Message

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VSE Over the Next 5 Years:
From Rights to Reality

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Shaping VSE’s Future
A Five-Year Roadmap

For 35 years, VSE has championed victims’ rights, growing from 17 founding members in 1990 to over 80 organisations in 35 countries. We have influenced EU and CoE policies, delivered 17+ trainings, 14 webinars, and reached 1.6 million people through campaigns. Collectively, our members have supported over 11 million victims, ensuring access to services and safe justice across Europe.

The 2021–2025 strategy established an evidence-based foundation for collaboration, research, and capacity-building. Platforms for victims and youth engagement, communities of practice, and expanded partnerships have strengthened our network. VSE now focuses on translating knowledge into practical reforms that protect and empower victims across Europe.

Our 2026–2030 strategy positions victims at the centre of policy, victim care, capacity building, communications, and projects. Innovation, foresight, and ethical technology—including AI—will strengthen prevention, anticipate emerging risks, and design adaptive, victim-centric systems.

Europe faces rapidly evolving threats:

  • Digital & AI-enabled crimes: Cybercrime, online exploitation, and AI-generated abuse.
  • Gender-Based Violence & Child Victimisation: Persistent systemic gaps in recognition, protection, and justice.
  • Organised crime & societal threats: Hate crime, extremism, disinformation, and polarisation.
  • Resource and funding constraints: Short-term, fragmented support for victim services.

Victims continue to face obstacles despite EU legal frameworks, highlighting a persistent gap between law and implementation.

VSE commits to supporting all victims, combining universal frameworks with specialised responses for those facing higher risks, such as terrorism, trafficking, cybercrime, and gender-based violence. Targeted projects, evidence-based research, and collaborative learning underpin our efforts to ensure safer, resilient, and democratic societies.

  • Strong Foundation for All: Core rights, services, and protections for every victim.
  • Specialised Responses: Tailored interventions for high-risk groups.
  • Priority Setting: Focus on impact, gaps, urgency, and long-term systemic benefit.
  • National Victim Support Frameworks: Multi-sector coordination, permanent funding, and EU-standard services.
  • Access to Safe Justice: Victim-centric reporting, protection, and trauma-informed practices.
  • Victim-Centric Approaches: Empowerment, dignity, participation, and inclusive support.
  • Sustainable Funding: Diversified, predictable, and long-term investment in victims’ services.
  • Mainstreaming Victims’ Rights: Integration across justice, health, education, and democracy.
  • Effective Communication & Data Protection: Accessible, trauma-informed communication; privacy balanced with safety.
  • Networks & Coordination: Strengthen cross-border cooperation, partnerships, and knowledge exchange.
  • Vision: A Europe where all victims’ needs are fully met through rights and services.
  • Mission: Drive systemic change, deliver victim services, and build VSE’s sustainable capacity.
  • Values: Respect, compassion, commitment, community, collaboration.
  • Evidence-based, rights-driven, and victim-led.
  • Strategic, coordinated, long-term, and adaptable.
  • Grounded in international best practices, tailored to national contexts.
  • Facilitate implementation of EU victims’ laws.
  • Mainstream victims’ rights across sectors.
  • Amplify victims’ voices and engagement.
  • Maximise access to high-quality support.
  • Pursue victims’ issues globally.
  • Strengthen resilience and responses to terrorism and mass victimisation.
  • Build VSE’s organisational capacity, influence, and partnerships.

Six Principles
Powering The Next Five Years

Through 2030, VSE will sharpen its role across Europe by acting as:

1

A driver of real change,

turning victims’ rights from legal standards into lived realities.
2

A centre of excellence,

advancing high-quality, trauma-informed support.
3

A strong and sustainable network,

empowering members through shared knowledge and cooperation.
4

A champion of systemic coordination,

connecting institutions, sectors and countries to close protection gaps.
5

A global advocate for victims’ rights,

strengthening partnerships beyond Europe.
6

A resilient, future-ready organisation,

equipped to respond to emerging harms and crises.

Together, these principles set the direction for VSE’s seven strategic objectives.

Seven Priorities
for Real Impact (2026–2030)

1. Strengthening victims’ rights in practice

2. Mainstreaming victims’ rights across society

3. Amplifying victims’ voices

4. Maximising access to high-quality support

5. Advancing victims’ rights globally

6. Building resilience against terrorism and mass victimisation

7. Strengthening VSE’s capacity and influence

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