European Parliament will today show strong support for setting minimum EU-wide standards for victims, protecting their basic rights immediately following a crime, as well as in the longer term. Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria),ALDE rapporteur for the Victims Package in the Women's Rights Committee, says: "We have to stand firm in defending effective and concrete rights for all victims in Europe, with one and the same objective: ensuring a comprehensive framework, taking into account the particular situation and needs of victims, and providing them with appropriate services in order to support them in going through a particularly difficult moment of their life. I hope that Member States will hear and support our call for strengthening the rights, support and protection of thousands of European citizens who each year face criminal proceedings as a victim."
Parliament strengthened the Commission's proposal in a large number of areas, improving the way victims have to deal with judicial proceedings, introducing special attention towards gender-based violence and violence in close relationships, the right to access shelters following rape or sexual violence, and the right to protection of victims during questioning in criminal investigations. Parvanova: "The definition of victims is broadened, while identifying and recognizing the specific needs of certain types of victims, particularly women who represent a large proportion of victims in Europe and who are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence and violence in close relationships."
Nathalie Griesbeck (Mouvement Démocrate, France), ALDE spokesperson in the Civil Liberties Committee speaks of a true paradigm shift across the EU: "For the first time we are actually looking at victims: victims have rights, they are vulnerable and need protection. With this proposal, minimum standards for their protection are finally set. We need to strike the right balance and ensure that justice is genuinely done. While prosecuting the perpetrators we need also to look after the victims. I furthermore urge for special consideration for children: hearings including children should be kept to an absolute minimum, and be conducted by trained professionals."
The European Commission estimates the total cost of crime for employers, state, victims and society as a whole at € 233 billion a year in the European Union. Efforts to strengthen victims' rights and to provide adequate support services should therefore be seen as cost-effective, contributing positively to facilitating the report of crimes, and maintaining the sustainability of national justice and health systems.
Background:
The proposal for a Directive sets out harmonised standards for the treatment of victims, so that no matter where individuals are within the EU, they will receive a basic level of care. This proposed Directive would replace the 2001 Council Framework Decision on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings.Today's vote will establish the Parliament's position for entering the negotiations with the Council.
