With the publication of Directive 2012/29 / EU, the rights of victims of crime have come to be the object of greater protection. However, for these to be effective, just legal texts are not enough, it is necessary to understand the protection system in its entirety to determinate better solutions. With this in mind, and considering the growing concern of the European Union with the full implementation of the text of the Directive, the PROVICTIMS project was developed, whose main objective was to demystify the roles that actors in criminal proceedings play in guaranteeing the protection of victims' rights.

Under the scope of this Project it was developed the ProVictims Report: The role of the public prosecution in the promotion of victims’ rights and the Brochure: Victims’ rights and the public prosecution service – 10 questions and answers, that we are glad to share.

During the research developed in the report, it was found that the effectiveness of the victims' rights depends on a delicate balance between the representation of the State and its interests as well as the fundamental rights and guarantees of the accused, a result that is not always easily achieved. That is why the victim support services play an essential role in this articulation, as they ensure the commitment to their rights as well as guarantee an exchange of synergy between the other agents of the criminal services.

This report written by Catarina Abegão Alves and Sónia Moreira Reis with the support of João Gouveia de Caires, is a unique contribution in terms of academic research, with fundamental and practical recommendations that can help build a better protection system for victims of crime.

The brochure on Victims’ rights and the public prosecution service – 10 questions and answers highlighted the crucial role prosecutors play in making rights effective and accessible for victims of crime.

The PROVICTIMS project was developed in collaboration between APAV and institutions from four European countries, namely the Irish Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Spanish IRSE-EBI, the Procuradoria Geral da República, Attorneys General's Office (PGR), the Victims Help and Support Organization White Circle Croatia, of Croatia and the Centre of Investigation for Criminal Law and Criminal Sciences of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, Portugal.

These outcomes were developed as part of the activities of ProVictims Project, co-funded by the Union's Justice Programme (2014-2020).

ProVictims Report: The role of the public prosecution in the promotion of victims’ rights
Brochure: Victims’ rights and the public prosecution service – 10 questions and answers

The Inclusive Infovictims website is now available, the first website in Portugal that provides people with visual and hearing impairments with information on rights, criminal proceedings and their stakeholders and the functioning of the judicial system.

The protection of people with visual and hearing impairments, victims of crime, the reduction of negative effects and the consequences of the victimization experience, and the contribution so that people with visual and hearing impairments have in their pose the knowledge and tools necessary to acting in case of violence or crime are fundamental to the promotion of their autonomy and training.

With this in mind, APAV, together with partners, developed the Inclusive Infovictims Project, creating informative materials, in digital support, adapted to the needs of people with visual and hearing impairments, providing them with the necessary knowledge to act in case of crime or violence.

APAV had as partners Casa Pia in Lisbon, consultants and the Ultimate Take agency. The  Inclusive Infovictims Project won the Caixa Social 2019 Awards, promoted by Caixa Geral de Depósito.

infovitimas.pt/inclusivo

APAV is honored to join, on the 21^st of August, the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The date, proclaimed by the United Nations, is dedicated this year to the theme “Connections”.

In accordance with the Office for Counter Terrorism of the UN, the theme “Connections” is a result of a series of creative ways victims of terrorism encountered to remain connected, whilst isolated from each other, their families, friends and communities during the pandemic. The Office invites the international community to establish connections and stand in solidarity with victims of terrorism, while for Member-States to learn from each other and share best practices in ensuring that victims’ needs and rights are met and made effective.

APAV, through its Mass Victimisation Support Unit, supports victims of terrorisms, their families and friends, whilst establishing national and international partnerships that facilitate both the increase and sharing of knowledge, best practices and the establishment of procedures centered in these particularly vulnerable group of victims, their needs and rights at the short, medium and long-term.

We had to, therefore, mark this day and invite you all to see the United Nation’s event, on the 20^th of August, 2 p.m. (Lisbon time) entitled “Surviving Terrorism: The Power of Connections”, which will count with the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, and testimonies of victims of victims of terrorism. The event, organized by the UN in collaboration with the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, may be followed live through: UNWebTV

Due to the priorities defined for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Ministry of Justice, with the support of the European Commission and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), will hold on March 30, in a format virtual, a High Level Conference with the theme "The Protection of Vulnerable Adults in Europe - the Way Forward".

People with disabilities or weaknesses in your personal abilities and victims of hate crimes or gender violence are among those adults who may face specific challenges in the exercise of their rights, in the defense of their interests and in access to justice in civil and criminal cases.

The Conference offers an opportunity to reflect on the current situation and to anticipate the necessary measures to ensure that all European citizens can enjoy their fundamental rights, including, in practice, equal access to justice.

The APAV President, João Lázaro, will participate in the painel “Challenges in the protection of vulnerable victims and in promoting in criminal process - building bridges through the Victims Strategics”. 

The Conference program is available online.

Registration through the link: https://participants.ppue2021.pt