New EU rules on victims’ rights that apply as of today (16 November) will bring major changes in the way victims of crime are treated in Europe.
The Victims’ Rights Directive lays down a set of binding rights for victims of crime, and clear obligations for EU Member States to ensure these rights in practice (IP/12/1066).
The rules apply to all people, regardless of their nationality, who fall victim to crime in the EU. They also apply if the criminal proceedings take place in the EU.
EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, said: “Every year across the EU, an estimated 1 in 7 people fall victim to crime. From today, new rules give victims clear rights to information, protection, and access to support services in all Member States. The new rules will improve how people are treated when they suffer from crime. Victims deserve to be duly protected throughout criminal proceedings. However, not all Member States have informed the Commission that they have transposed the Directive. I call on the remaining Member States to ensure these important rules are implemented as soon as possible, so that victims and their families can benefit from them in practice.”
The objective of the new rules is that all victims of crime and their family members are recognised and treated in a respectful and non-discriminatory manner based on an individual approach tailored to the victim’s needs.
These EU rules must now be implemented and applied by all Member States. Moreover, as many of the rights set up in the Directive are clear and precise, it is possible for individuals to invoke them directly before the national courts, even if their Member State has not yet fully implemented into national law.
For more information:
Source: ec.europa.eu
Picture: www.parliament.uk
