Newsletter Issue 2 | September 09

Index:

Page 2 . Victims in – 23rd Annual Conference of Victim Support Europe

Page 4 . activities . future

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“I know that what binds us together is not only “FD 2001 Designed to give victims the best legal one thematic, one knowledge, nor one protection and defence of their interests, responsibility, but mainly a concern to act for the irrespective of the Member State in which they benefit of the victims” find themselves. The Framework Decision also contains provisions on giving victims assistance before and after criminal proceedings, so as to alleviate the effects of the crime.”

Caroline Morgan Alberto Costa Criminal Justice Unit – DG Justice, Portuguese Minister of Justice Freedom and Security

“Unfortunately, the rights of victims of crime is an “To date, we may not have focused sufficiently on issue that has largely been left out of the work in the position of the victim, and it is that change in the Justice and Home Affairs area during the last focus that we must bring about throughout the couple of years. It will be a priority for me to raise by the adoption of the best this issue on the agenda of the EU with the aim of practices shared between the Member States.” accomplishing concrete improvements. The rights of victims of crime is an issue of direct importance for citizens of the EU, where we can bring added value to our citizens by working together at EU level.”

Sir John Thomas Beatrice Ask President of the European Network Swedish Minister for Justice of Councils for the Judiciary

23rd Annual Conference of

hosted by

. Opening Session . Plenary Speakers

Following the Project activities, Alberto Costa (Minister of Justice, • Preliminary results of the assessment APAVorganized and hosted the Victims ) of the implementation of the in Europe - 23rd Annual Conference of Framework Decision on the standing Victim Support Europe. Incoming Swedish Presidency of the of victims in criminal proceedings in European Council – a message from the the 27 Member States - Carmen Minister for Justice, Beatrice Ask Rasquete (APAV, Project Victims in

This Seminar was an opportunity to Jaap Smit (President of Victim Support Europe) and Antony Pemberton present the framework of existing rights, Europe) (InterVICT). and debate whether these rights are in • Discussing the Concept of Victims of fact being implemented in the European Margarida Marques (European Crime Today – David Miers (Cardiff Union. It was an important opportunity to Commission Representation in Portugal) Law School) and Hans-Joerg Albrecht discuss which rights require further (Max Planck Institute for Foreign and Joana Marques Vidal (Chairwoman of implementation measures, in order to International Criminal Law in APAV, Portugal) meet the needs of victims of crime. Freiburg) • Coordinating the victims’ rights instruments in the European Union – The Seminar took place on the 25 and 26 . Workshops | Main themes Caroline Morgan (Criminal Justice June 2009 and it was held at Calouste Unit – DG Justice, Freedom and

Gulbenkian Foundation, in . Security) Victims of crime: law practice and • Victimisation and Vulnerability – victim’s perception of the criminal Sandra Walklate (University of The Victims in Europe Seminar gathered justice system Liverpool) and Lord Justice Thomas more than 250 experts and professionals (European Network of Councils of the in the area of justice, social matters (civil Different Countries, different realities Judiciary) society organisations) and policy- • Role of Research in Pushing Forward makers from 37 European Countries, Transnational Victims and Terrorism Victims’ Rights – Diogo Pinto da Georgia, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia, Costa (Porto School of Criminology) Russia Ukraine, Norway, Brazil, Children and Women Victims and Arlène Gaudreault (Université de Venezuela, India and Cape Verde. Montréal) Victim Support and Best Practices

The Victims in Europe Seminar will . Closing Session gather the plenary and workshop presentations in a publication which will Hans-Holger Herrnfeld (Bureau of the be available online in the following European Committee on Crime Problems website: http://apav.pt/vine/. of the ) Jaap Smit (President of Victim Support Europe)

Carlos Coelho (MEP, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs - LIBE) 23rd Annual Conference of

hosted by

We want to take this opportunity to thank “The stay in Lisbon was very nice, the the presence of all the speakers and “Thank you for an unforgettable seminar was very good and with a great participants of Victims in Europe: 23rd conference!” organization (Congratulations!).”

Annual Conference of Victim Support Sonja Leferink Diogo Pinto da Costa Europe. Slachtofferhulp Nederland Porto School of Criminology

Partcipants feedbacks: “I enjoyed the sessions I went to very "(…) we would like to thank you and all much and also the people I met. your colleagues very much for a great (…) thank you very much for the conference you organised in Lisbon. invitation and your hospitality.” “thank you so much for the wonderfully Your organizational skills and hospitality were excellent.” organized and thought-provoking Professor Sandra Walklate Eleanor Rathbone Chair of Sociology conference in your beautiful city! I Marketa and Petra Vitousova Head of School of Sociology and Social Policy returned home inspired & energized University of Liverpool Bily Kruh Bezpeci, O.S. (…)”

Laura Wall Frauenhorizonte-gegen sexuelle Gewalt e.V. Thank you all for the kind words and “congratulations for the success of the feedback that we have been receiving. Conference, you really have done a great job!(…)”

Marianne Gammer “(…)Many thanks for the great Weisser Ring Austria conference and social meetings. I really . Social activities enjoyed the presentations and debates. I believe that I will never forget the splendid dinner in Pal. Belmonte with the marvelous live-music: A fine memory.” “Una vez de regreso en España, queria A Seminar Dinner was organised on agradecerle todas sus atenciones y 26th June 2009 at Palacio de Belmonte. felicitarle a Ud. y a sus compañeros por The magnificent view from the Balcony, el éxito del Congreso. (…)” Phyl Costelloe and colleagues the wonderful dinner and the Victim Support Ireland Carlos Fernández de Casadevante Romani breathtaking performances from the Catedrático de Derecho Internacional y “fadistas” made an unforgettable Relaciones Internacionales farewell. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

. activities . Mainz meeting

The second meeting of Project Victims in Europe was held in Mainz and had the participation of the core group members: APAV: Carmen Rasquete and João Lázaro Bíly Kruh Bezpecí: Petra Vitousova and Marketa Vitousova InterVICT: Marc Groenhuijsen, Antony Pemberton, Suzan van der Aa and René van Merrienboer Victim Support Europe: Jaap Smit and Frank Hengelveld Victim Support Malta: Mario Montebello Weisser Ring: Helgard van Hüllen, Gabriele Holthaus and Barbara Sharping

If you did not yet replied to our survey please Here we discussed the methodology concerning the presentation of results, check the following links: final report structure, how to push forward victims’ rights and presentation website.

legal implementation survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=upCCGM . website

SF0Rt_2fSxSlM2QV1w_3d_3d Project Victims in Europe has now a website (http://apav.pt/vine/) where

you are able to find information on the partners, methodology and surveys, organizational implementation survey: responses summary, media package, contacts, and information on the Seminar. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=bADGTXJ In the future, the final report of Project Victims in Europe will be available qFDPW4_2f0GW1D_2fDA_3d_3d on the website.

. future

With only 4 months until the end of Project Victims in following Member States: Germany, Malta, France, Sweden, Europe we are proud to say that our main goals have been Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia and Ireland. achieved.

The Victims in Europe Seminar was a great success which will have a final publication with all the plenary and workshop presentations. This publication will be available . contacts online in Victims in Europe website (http://apav.pt/vine/).

Project VinE has now 216 answers in the organizational Carmen Rasquete – Project Manager survey and 96 replies to the legal questionnaire, making Frederico Marques – Project Senior Officer the grand total of 312 answers in the 27 Member States. Marta Pita – Project Junior Officer Portuguese Association for Victim Support We have achieved and many times surpassed the Rua José Estêvão, 135 A, Piso 1, 1150-201 Lisbon minimum established for each survey in each country but Portugal unfortunately we are still lacking at least one answer in some Member States. In the organizational survey we still tel. dir. +351.21.315.84.73 / 4 have to receive answers in the following Member States: fax +351.21.887.63.51 Latvia, Denmark, Cyprus, Slovenia and Netherlands. In the e-mail: [email protected] legal survey we still have to receive answers in the http://www.apav.pt