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First meeting of the European Network for Victims’ Rights

On Friday 19 February Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur and European Commissioner Věra Jourová opened the first meeting of the European Network for Victims’ Rights (ENVR) in Amsterdam.  The objective of the network is to improve the position of victims of crime throughout Europe. The position of victims is a priority of the Netherlands EU presidency.

The focus of attention has traditionally been on suspects and offenders, but in the Netherlands the position of the victim has improved considerably in recent years in large part through the efforts of organisations like Victim Support Netherlands, the Violent Offences Compensation Fund and victim associations. Their legal position in criminal law has been strengthened, victim support has improved and the scope for compensation has been broadened.

There is now an EU directive establishing a number of basic rights that apply to victims of crime regardless of their nationality or where the offence took place. For the Netherlands it is important for victims to be able to exercise these rights in practice throughout the EU. Victims in every member state have similar needs.

The ENVR brings EU member states together so that they can take action to ensure that victims are able to actually exercise the rights they have acquired. The member states can all learn from each other’s experience. When people fall victim to crimes outside their own country, lodging a criminal complaint and securing compensation requires cooperation between the countries involved. At today’s meeting the participants talked about how the member states can improve the position of victims in cross-border cases.

The ENVR was established within the framework of the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in cooperation with partner countries France, Ireland and Slovakia. The ENVR will convene again in Bratislava (November 2016) and Paris (May 2017).

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Speech by Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur on the occasion of the European Network for Victims’ Rights ...

 

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