About the Project

Objectives:

Contribute to promotion & protection of the rights of VoC in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus.

Specific:

  • Contribute to effective application of EU law on VoC rights, esp. Directive 2012/29/EU in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus
  • Develop model & Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for generic victim support services (GVSS), adaptable to national
    contexts, to be implemented in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus, yet to establish GVSS as required by Art. 8 of Dir. 2012/29
  • Promote cooperation between authorities & organisations in contact with VoC to support implementation of the model & 
    SOPs for GVSS & ensure comprehensive protection of VoC

The expected results of the project are the following:

  • Improved knowledge on implementing generic victim support services in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria and Cyprus of national, regional or local authorities that provide support services to victims or persons in need etc. or officially mandated to protect/safeguard the rights of crime victims, Law enforcement and criminal justice authorities and legal practitioners, as well as Civil society (service providers)
  • Availability of model and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), methods and tools for the implementation of generic victim support services in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria and Cyprus
  • Enhanced multi-disciplinary and interagency cooperation between competent authorities and other agencies or organisations coming into contact with victims (through networking & recommendations and guidelines for setting up a multidisciplinary task force or working group), to support the implementation of the model and SOPs for generic victim support services and ensure comprehensive protection of victims
  • Increased awareness of stakeholders on the transposition of Directive 2012/29/EU in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria and Cyprus, especially in relation to the provision of generic support services to crime victims
  • National, regional or local authorities that provide support services to victims or persons in need etc. or officially mandated to protect/safeguard the rights of crime victims,
  • Law enforcement and criminal justice authorities, and legal practitioners, as well as Civil society (service providers) will be in a position to fulfil their mandates more effectively and to protect the rights of victims in a more comprehensive manner and according to EU legislation

In the long-term, victims of crime in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus, will benefit from the project results by having increased access to confidential support services in accordance with their needs, free of charge, ultimately enhancing the protection of their rights.

The target groups of the action are the main stakeholders involved in the protection of the rights of victims of crime:

  • National, regional or local authorities that provide (social) support services to victims or persons in need etc. such as the project partner National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA) or officially mandated to protect/safeguard the rights of crime victims;
  • Law enforcement and criminal justice authorities, and legal practitioners;
  • Civil society (service providers).

Apart from their different roles in protecting victims’ rights, these target groups have been selected because the action aims to promote multi-disciplinary and interagency cooperation between relevant actors providing support to victims, so as to institutionalize and implement the model and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for generic support services and also reduce duplication of tasks, enhance comprehensive protection of the victim, effectiveness and sustainability of the services and encourage victims to remain engaged with the criminal justice process which may assist in reducing the potential for re-victimisation.