Rights and protection for victims of crime

Background

Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty several EU Directives have dealt with victims’ rights in specific contexts, such as the 2011 directives on the European protection order, on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploi­tation of children and child pornography, and on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. Building on these precedents, the Commission proposed a Directive of general scope to protect victims of crime on 18 May 2011.

The proposed Directive of the European Parlia­ment and of the Council establishing mini­mum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime will replace Frame­work Deci­sion 2001/220/JHA on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings. According to its legal basis (Article 82(2) TFEU) this Directive will lay down minimum rules, while Member States (MS) may extend the rights in order to provide a higher level of protection. The United Kingdom and Ire­land have notified their wish to participate in the adoption and application of this Directive, whereas Denmark, due to its opt-out, will not be bound by it or subject to its application.

The objective of the Directive is to harmonise MS legislation by granting a core of rights to all victims of crimes. The focus has been placed on the rights:

• to understand and to be understood, to receive information about their case; to interpretation and translation as well as to have access to support services;
• to be heard during criminal proceedings, to a review of a decision not to prosecute the offender, to restorative justice, to legal aid and to return of property.

Special treatment will be granted to victims with specific protection needs; these result from the type and nature of the crime, its circumstances or the victim’s personal charac­teristics; this will mainly apply to children, women and persons whose relationship with the perpetrator makes them vulnerable. Parti­cu­lar attention should be paid to the risk of retalia­tion, intimidation, or repeat victimisa­tion. In this context the right to privacy and personal integrity shall be ensured, notably for children, by preventing public dissemination of images or information, making possible their identification.

According to the draft Directive, MS shall grant appropriate training to judges and prosecutors involved in criminal proceedings and raise their awareness of the needs of victims. Lawyers, practitioners, public support services and victim support organisations should also be actively involved in its implementation. Moreover, MS shall take appropriate action, including through the internet by targeting groups at risk with information and awareness raising campaigns. Research and education initiatives could be also launched and finan­ced, where appropriate, in cooperation with civil society and stakeholders.