APAV promoted Conference on Protection Orders in the European Member States
On the November 28th APAV promoted the Conference on Protection Orders in the European Member States. The conference took place in Lisbon, in Hotel Olissipo Oriente, under the objectives of the POEMS project, promoted by APAV.
During the conference the results of the POEMS project were presented and discussed. There were also presentations on the implementation of the European Protection Order, the EPOgender project, and Austrian emergency barring orders.
The POEMS project was sponsored under the Daphne III program. It aimed to make an inventory of protection order legislation and practice in the Member States, to identify best practices and possible gaps, and to evaluate the level of protection offered to victims, also in the light of the European Protection Order. It did so with the help of national (expert) reports, victim interviews and literature study. The ultimate goal was to enhance the protection provided to victims. How can current laws and practices in relation to protection orders be improved?
Informations and programme:
apav.pt/poems
The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) is assessing victim support services in the European Union
FRA is currently developing a project through which it will identify best practices on victim support, by mapping the services provided, and therefore equipping the EU and the Member States with updated information on what is currently available and how.
The European Commission asked FRA to undergo this study in order to have results before the 15th of November 2015, and therefore be useful for the transposition into national law of the Victims’ Directive (Directive 2012/29/EU).
The first results are now available in the form of comparative tables and maps and the final report will be launched later this year.
Initial findings stress the need for States to step up their efforts to provide support, underlining the importance of cooperating with civil society organizations.
To see the results already made public and know more about the study, just check FRA’s webpage:
fra.europa.eu
Campaign on Human Trafficking: "Used In Europe"
As consumers, each day we are more aware about the origins of the products we use. We have learned that there can be a lot of suffering related to the production of the things we buy, resulting from labour exploitation and the trafficking of people. We may believe that severe labour exploitation only happens in the Global South and not in Europe but, unfortunately, our continent is far from being a safe haven when it comes to the protection of labour rights.
To raise awareness on this issue, La Strada International, together with anti-trafficking NGOs all over Europe (in Portugal, APAV) is developing the campaign Used in Europe, disclosing information about human trafficking and labour exploitation situations that are happening in Europe and resources for people and business to fight this issue. You can check the campaign in the website: www.usedineurope.com
APAV is also currently developing a raising awareness campaign on trafficking, under the Project BRISEIS - to see the campaign click here.
APAV renews website dedicated to tourists victims of crime: "May I Help You?"
APAV just launched a revamped website dedicated to tourists victims of crime: May I Help You?. Developed under the Project May I Help You?, promoted by APAV, this site aims to improve the information and support given to people who are victims of a crime in another Member State of the European Union. The information on the website is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Considering that the crime victim can feel even more vulnerable when visiting a foreign country, in addition to the linguistic and cultural differences, it is difficult for victims to seek support after the crime.
This site provides useful information for tourists, informing them of their rights, providing information on available support systems, safety tips, tourist information about Portugal and information on APAV.
APAV has deepened support for victims tourists over the years, working closely with the embassies and consulates. This new site is another important tool to complement this ongoing work specific support.
Site: May I Help You?
Seminar Right to Quality Services | Lisbon | September 18th 2014
The Seminar "Right to Quality Services" will be held in Lisbon, at the Hotel Fénix Lisboa, on the 18th of September 2014.
Every person reacts differently in the aftermath of a criminal offense. While some victims are able to move on with their lives fairly unaffected, others feel greatly impacted and have difficulty coping with the consequences of the ordeal they've endured.
In addition, many victims of crime are still unaware of their rights even of their right to access to quality services.
Seminar Right to Quality Services will be a valuable opportunity to gather several experts on the arena of victims' rights and support, whom will offer their perspectives on cross cutting issues related with:
- the assessment of victim' specific needs;
- qualified police assistance;
- the compared experience of victim support in Europe;
- the importance of certified quality support in the third sector;
- amongst others.
This event is organised within Project "Right to Quality Services for Victims of Crime" (2012-2014), promoted by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support and co-financed by the European Commission under the Criminal Justice Programme of the European Union. Project Rigth to Quality Services for Victims of Crime is developed in partnership with Victim Support Scotland, Weisser Ring Germany, University of Tilburg - INTERVICT (The Netherlands) and Institut d'Aide aux Victimes et de Médiation (INAVEM) (France).
Information, registration, programme:
apav.pt/quality