Victims’ Rights
One year has passed since the adoption of the EU Directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, a new piece of EU-level legislation that protects victims of crime, which must be implemented by all EU Member States by 16 November 2015. In light of this, a comprehensive JUSTICIA guide on the Victims’ Directive, was officially launched in Dublin’s Law Society by Greg Heylin, Director, Victims of Crime Office in September 2013. This tool has also been translated into three Network Member languages - Hungarian, Latvian and Greek.
Furthermore in November 2013, the JUSTICIA Network, in association with Victim Support Europe (VSE), held a roundtable seminar in Brussels entitled, Human Rights in the EU: Towards Effective Implementation of the Victims’ Directive. The event, which was opened by the President of Victim Support Europe, David McKenna, and involved relevant European Commission representatives, allowed the exchange of national best practices, challenges, key concerns and plans for monitoring implementation amongst attendees.
Top: Greg Heylin of the Victims of Crime Office, Maria McDonald, author of the Victims’ rights guide, & ICCL Director Mark Kelly Above: Alan Shatter speaking the Victims’ Rights Alliance Launch
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Breaking New Ground for Human Rights
At a domestic level the ICCL welcomed and lent its support to the establishment of the Victims’ Rights Alliance (VRA), comprising a number of victim support organisations. The Alliance was officially launched by the Minister for Justice, Equality, and Defence and the Lord Mayor of Dublin on 15 November 2013. The Alliance’s main focus will be the effective transposition and implementation of the Victims’ Directive in Ireland by November 2015. The ICCL is delighted to be a member of the newly formed Alliance. See www.victimsrightsalliance.org for further information.