Who We Are

Full implementation of Victims’ Rights Directive:

1. Develop new initiatives assessing the implementation of the Directive and consistent for responsibility of the instances of non implementation.
2. Provide support and advice to our members and other actors on how to implement the Directive
3. Work with the European Union to develop an environment where the full implementation of the Directive is a priority for the EU and Member States.

Making sure that victims rights are taken into account in law and policies:

1. Ensure that victims’ rights are mainstreamed into legislative and policy initiatives across the board.
2. Develop policy makers’, legislators’ and other stakeholders’ sensitivity to victims’ issues.
3. Ensure that there are mainstreaming and coordination
   infrastructures within institutions.

Recognition of all victims:

1. Empower victims to report crime, improve the identification of victims and their ability to come forward.
2. Support action to identify which serious crimes are not fully recognised and criminalised across Europe and promote action to ensure a harmonious approach. Support the European Commission in its work in this field.
3. Act to ensure victims are fully of informed of their rights and services, and can access them.
4. Train professionals in different fields to be able to recognise victimisation and respond to it.

Ensure respect and fight against secondary victimisation:

1. Improve the understanding of society and professionals of foundational victim issues including – the causes of crime, the impact of crime on victims, the problems they face, how victims may react, how to help victims.
2. Improve the way that individuals react to victims, talk to and about victims and ensure a victim centric engagement with victims.
3. Act to reduce secondary victimisation and its causes in law enforcement and justice.

Develop resilient societies:

1. Develop a resiliency framework for victims and wider society
2. Work towards introducing resiliency education in schools

Mainstream victims support in all spheres of society:

1. Work with employers, educators and health workers towards recognising signs of victimisation and respecting the victim.
2. Ensure that all actors understand how to respond to victimisation and how to ensure support for victims.
3. Work to ensure that victims’ issues are incorporated in EU and international policies, legislation and action.
4. Provide training to diverse groups on elements of victimisation and victim support.

Ensuring access to existing services:

1. Develop a better knowledge of what constitutes high quality victim support and push for this to be the recognised standard for implementation
2. Support the strengthening of high quality victim services (generic and specialist) across Europe.
3. Promote support of victims across all social settings – in particular in education, in the work place, and in organisations or institutions which have more frequent contact with victims.
4. Improve access to support for cross border victims

Developing new support services:

1. Establish new support services in countries which don’t have them
2. Develop a psychological first aid programme for use by members of the public
3. Advocate for the establishment of 116 006 helplines across all EU and national helplines across Europe.
4. Support the running of distance support services including exploring options regarding online, self-service and AI run systems.
5. Establish VSE actions useful to victims – information, apps etc.
   NB: these are static style services primarily focused around information and connection to others.

Victim-centred justice systems:

1. Pursue full implementation of measures to protect victims from secondary victimisation in criminal proceedings – focusing both on behaviours, rules and infrastructure
2. Promote the implementation of international best practices on protection measures for victims
3. Promote and facilitate victims’ central role in criminal proceedings
4. Develop stronger victims’ rights in non-criminal judicial proceedings – civil, administrative etc.

Victim-centred compensation schemes:

1. Promote reform of state and offender compensation schemes to improve access, treatment and positive outcomes for applicants.
2. Ensure that compensation is awarded without the need for victim to pursue first a direct civil compensation claim against the offender.

Grow VSE:

1. Continue to grow VSE’s budget and staff to deliver its priorities
2. Develop specialised units in VSE office to improve the development and delivery of its work
3. Increase the use of members’ knowledge and that of external partners through new co-operation structures
4. Grow VSE membership and networks

Strengthen VSE:

1. Develop new income streams to improve financial stability and to grow the organisation.
2. Assist members to strengthen their own activities