The Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) hosted the Seminar Infovictims III - Innovation to humanize the justice system for victims. The event took place on 19 September, at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, under the scope of the Infovictims III Project, developed by APAV and funded by the European Union's Justice Programme (2014-2020).  

The Infovictims Project was launched in 2011 with the aim of contributing to the quantity and quality of information available to victims of crime and to society in general about the justice system, about their rights and how to exercise them. As such, the teamwork developed with the national and international partners here gathered has resulted in the creation of accessible and inclusive information tools, such as the Infovictims Website.

The final conference of the Infovítimas III project featured Portuguese and international speakers. This seminar, attended by 200 people, promoted a broad discussion on how the justice system can be humanised from the perspective of the victim and the professionals that integrate it.  

Programme and information:
apav.pt/infovictims

The European Forum for Restorative Justice promotes the course “Victims' Needs and Restorative Justice: Good Practices and Safeguards”, which will take place at the EFRJ's Winter Academy (in Leuven, Belgium, between 30 January - 3 February 2023). The course addresses — among several other target groups — victim support professionals. It offers a hands-on learning experience about the potential of restorative justice, how it can respond to victims’ needs, and about good practices that help victims’ safe participation in restorative justice. It will be delivered by Peter Crory (Victim Support Northern Ireland), and Lisa Walter (victim—offender mediator, Mediante, Belgium).

More information:
- Curso “Victims' Needs and Restorative Justice: Good Practices and Safeguards”
- EFRJ Winter Academy

Victim Support Europe’s Executive Director Levent Altan participated in the first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, organised by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in New York. Held under the theme of “Advancing the Rights and Needs of Victims of Terrorism”, the Congress provided a platform for dialogue and engagement on a victim-centric approach to countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism. More than 600 participants, including close to 100 victims of terrorism from 25 countries across the globe attended in person.

Aimed at advancing dialogue and engagement on a victim-centric approach to countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism, the Global Congress High Level opening session held in the United Nations General Assembly Hall began with a poignant call to action by ten victims and survivors of terrorism from around the world.

This call to action was followed by a High-Level Parliamentary Session during which representatives of national assemblies emphasised the need to develop, strengthen and tailor domestic legislation to respond to the complex needs of victims. They also highlighted the importance of having the rights of victims of terrorism clearly recognised in national legislation, in line with international human rights frameworks.

Following the High-Level opening session, the Congress continued its work through six interactive thematic sessions spread throughout the two days that were expected to yield clear and concrete recommendations for action at all levels. The themes of the sessions include the importance of remembrance; access to justice for victims of terrorism; rehabilitation, assistance and support as well as protecting and addressing the rights and needs of victims of terrorism with specific needs.

Additional information can be found on the dedicated webpage for the 2022 Global Congress.

APAV participated in the 17th International Symposium of the Word Society of Victimology, which took place in San Sebastián (Basque Country, Spain), between the 5th and 9th of June.

Participants from 54 countries participated in this event to share practices, models and research with the theme “Victimisation in a digital Word: responding to and connecting with victims”.

APAV was represented in the event by Rosa Saavedra, who gave a presentation entitled "Ethics in online support: dillemmas and challenges", sharing some of the results of the Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (VMVD) Project in Pandemic Times: characterization, challenges and opportunities in distance support (AaD).