A roundtable on norms and standards from EU Member States on Victims Support Services was organised on Wednesday, 31 August 2022, by EUKOJUST Access to Justice Expert Alina Matache as part of the activities related to strengthening access to justice for vulnerable people, together with 11 Victims’ Advocates.
A Comparative Analysis on Victims Support Services across Europe was presented by the EUKOJUST Expert on Strengthening the Victims Protection and Assistance Office (VPAO), Sandra Buzlieva at the roundtable.
The Analysis focused on the minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime and the available support and legal assistance by the state and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Examples from several EU member states were provided such as Sweden, Finland, France, Italy, Croatia, and Slovakia.
The event was also attended by Victims Support Europe (VSE), an umbrella network of 40 national organisations that provide support to more than two million people affected by crime each year in 26 countries across Europe.
Deputy Director Aleksandra Ivankovic presented the activities of VSE and the best-case studies in establishing a national framework for Victim Support Services. Victims’ Advocates shared their concerns with regard to provision of services to victims in Kosovo and discussion on how to improve and strengthen the national system as to provide improved and tailored services to victims based on EU standards, ensued.
