EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 24.6.2020 COM(2020) 258 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Strategy on victims' rights (2020-2025)



INTRODUCTION Crime can affect us all. Every year millions of people in the European Union become victims of crime. A Union of equality must ensure access to justice for all victims of crime no matter where in the EU or in what circumstances the crime took place. Victims of crime must have access to support and protection at all times. The lockdown of society during the COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in domestic violence, child sexual abuse, cybercrime, and racist and xenophobic hate crime. It is therefore crucial to strengthen the framework for support and protection of victims and ensure it is resilient in crisis situations. This first EU Strategy on victims’ rights frames the Commission’s work for the period 2020-2025. It also invites other actors, including EU Member States and civil society, to take action. It pays particular attention to the specific needs of victims of gender-based violence. The EU will do all it can to prevent and combat gender-based violence and to support and protect victims of such crimes. The strength of the EU is in its diversity. Therefore, the EU will do all it can to prevent and combat hate crime, in all its forms, including racial, anti-Semitic, homophobic, or transphobic hate crime. The EU has already adopted a solid set of victims’ rights. The Victims’ Rights Directive includes the right to access information, the right to support and protection, in accordance with victims’ individual needs, and a set of procedural rights. Other relevant EU acts include the Compensation Directive and EU rules on European protection orders. The EU has further adopted instruments that respond to the specific needs of victims of particular crimes: the Anti-trafficking Directive , the Directive against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and the Counter-terrorism Directive providing for specific rights for victims of terrorism. The EU has also signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention). Despite this progress, recent reports show that victims of crime still cannot fully rely on their rights in the EU. Victims’ difficulties in accessing justice are mainly due to lack of information, insufficient support and protection. Victims are often exposed to secondary victimisation during criminal proceedings and when claiming compensation. Those who become victims of crime when travelling abroad find it even more difficult to access justice and compensation. For the most vulnerable victims, such as victims of gender-based violence, child victims, victims with disabilities, elderly victims, victims of hate crime, victims of terrorism or victims of trafficking in human beings, it is particularly challenging to go through criminal proceedings and to deal with the aftermath of crime. Addressing this problem starts by better applying EU rules on victims’ rights in practice. The Commission’s recent reports on the implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive and the Directive on the European protection order show that further progress is needed to reach the full potential of these instruments. This is mostly because of their incomplete transposition. Most Member States have still not fully transposed the minimum standards agreed in the EU rules on victims’ rights. The implementation reports also point to incorrect implementation into national legal orders. Full implementation requires that appropriate structures are in place providing for general and specialist support services, as well as protection in accordance with victims’ individual needs. Moreover, all actors in contact with victims must be trained and fully aware of victims’ rights. It is crucial that all Member States fully implement and apply the agreed minimum standards. The Commission will focus on ensuring correct implementation of the EU rules through additional legal actions if necessary. In addition, the Commission will promote good practices both on how to achieve the agreed minimum standards and how to go beyond them. Where appropriate, the Commission will propose to further strengthen EU rules on victims’ rights. Several actors have presented recommendations on how to improve EU policy on victims’ rights. In preparing this strategy, the Commission took into account the December 2019 Council Conclusions on victims’ rights, a study by the European Parliament, as well as recommendations presented in several reports, including those of former Commission President Juncker’s Special Adviser on victims’ compensation, the Fundamental Rights Agency, and Victim Support Europe. This strategy is based on a two-strand approach: empowering victims of crime and working together for victims’ rights. It is crucial to empower victims of crime so they can report crime, participate in criminal proceedings, claim compensation and ultimately recover – as much as possible – from consequences of crime. These ambitious objectives can be achieved only if the Commission and all relevant actors work together. That is why this strategy focuses also on strengthening cooperation and coordination. The strategy presents five key priorities: (i) effective communication with victims and a safe environment for victims to report crime; (ii) improving support and protection to the most vulnerable victims; (iii) facilitating victims’ access to compensation; (iv) strengthening cooperation and coordination among all relevant actors; and (v) strengthening the international dimension of victims’ rights. EMPOWERING VICTIMS OF CRIME 1.Effective communication with victims and a safe environment for victims to report crime An effective policy to fight crime requires that national authorities ensure a safe environment for victims to report crimes. Better support and protection to victims of crime will result in increased security of all citizens in the European Union. Too often victims are not aware of their rights. Persons in contact with victims (including the first contact authorities) who should inform victims about their rights are often not well trained to do so. Crime under-reporting is another serious problem. The fear of the offender or of negative consequences from participating in the judicial process often stops victims from reporting a crime. Cases of sexual and gender-based violence are largely under-reported. Only about one third of women who are physically or sexually abused, mostly by their partners or close relatives, contact the authorities. In cases of gender-based violence, utmost care should be exercised to avoid victimisation of children. It can also be difficult for a child to report a crime. Children are often victimised in the family environment, or by persons whom they depend on. It is therefore crucial to ensure special reporting mechanisms for such victims. Professionals who are in contact with them (such as health-care staff or teachers) should be trained to detect crime and deal with it in an appropriate manner. It is also important that relevant professionals communicate with victims in a way that is adapted to victims’ specific needs. This is particularly relevant for victims with disabilities. Professionals who are in contact with victims with disabilities should be trained to communicate with them in a way that takes into account any mental or physical impairment such as hearing or speech impairments. In addition, accessibility to premises for victims with disabilities must be ensured so they can report crime and participate in criminal proceedings. Moreover, victims of crime belonging to disadvantaged or vulnerable communities or minorities may have low trust in public authorities, which prevents them from reporting crime. Fundamental Rights Agency surveys show a considerable level of under-reporting of hate crime among the LGBTI+, Black, Muslim and Jewish communities. To increase crime reporting among members of these communities, it is vital to raise trust towards the public authorities by, for instance, strengthening cooperation among the relevant authorities and relevant communities. It is equally important to ensure specific training about non-discrimination for police and other persons coming into contact with those victims. An increasing share of our lives takes place online, a trend further accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cybercrime may include serious crimes against persons such as online sexual offences (including against children), identity theft, online hate crime and crimes against property (such as fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment).Victims of cybercrime do not always find relevant assistance to remedy the damage they suffered and often fail to report a crime. Children or elderly persons in particular may lack the necessary digital skills or awareness of the remedies at their disposal. Reporting cybercrimes should be further facilitated and victims should be provided with the help they need. Raising awareness about victims’ rights is an indispensable element of creating a safer environment for victims. Therefore, under this strategy, the Commission will promote better communication about victims’ rights and victims’ needs by launching an EU awareness campaign on victims’ rights and by promoting training activities.

The EU campaign will focus on raising awareness about victims’ rights in general and will promote specialist support and protection for victims with specific needs, such as victims of gender-based and domestic violence and victims of hate crime. Particular attention will be paid to reaching out to vulnerable groups and marginalised or isolated communities who experience more barriers or have limited possibilities to access justice and support. Particular attention will be also paid to appropriate methods of communication to ensure that campaign reaches child victims, elderly victims or victims with disability. The Commission will also focus on training activities that effectively reach actors who are in contact with victims, such as judicial authorities and other judicial staff in contact with victims such as lawyers, prosecutors, court staff, prison and probation staff. In this regard, the Commission will strengthen its cooperation with the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN). The Commission will also promote a better understanding of victims’ rights and improved methods of communication with victims among law enforcement authorities with the assistance of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL). To respond to the specific needs of victims of cybercrime, the Commission will also continue to support the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group (ECTEG). Restorative justice services provide victims with a safe environment to make their voice heard and support their healing process. The Victims’ Rights Directive requires that such services have as a primary consideration the interests and needs of the victim. Safeguards must be in place to ensure that the victim is not further victimised during the process. In practice, there is a lack of knowledge about restorative justice services among professionals and victims. It is therefore crucial that Member States ensure high quality standards in delivering restorative justice services and provide for training of restorative justice practitioners. The potential benefits of such services depend on the availability, accessibility and quality of restorative justice services in the Member States. The Commission, together with Member States, will continue to improve the quality and reliability of information about victims’ rights on the e-Justice Portal and will promote it to a broad range of potential end-users. This includes victims, victim support organisations and national authorities (including consular authorities and police). To spread information about victims’ rights, the Commission will also improve access to information gathered under relevant EU funded projects and provide a comprehensive database of such projects on the Europa website. Efficient support and protection of victims of crime cannot be achieved without the cooperation of national authorities and victim support organisations. In this regard, the Commission will promote mutual training and exchange of good practices among the national authorities and victim support organisations. For the new multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 , the Commission has proposed to continue with funding possibilities for victim support organisations so they can contribute to correct implementation of the EU rules on victims’ rights. In addition, under the new multiannual financial framework, the Commission will promote the integration of victims’ rights measures in EU funding programmes for policies such as security, health and education. Such an approach will raise awareness about victims’ rights to a larger public and will increase funding possibilities for projects that take a holistic approach to victims’ rights. The Commission will continue to monitor the implementation of the relevant EU rules, including the provisions of the Victims’ Rights Directive on victims’ rights to information, including communication in a simple and accessible language, support and protection in accordance with individual needs and the provision of training activities. As demonstrated by the report of the Commission on the implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive, most Member States still have issues with complete/correct transposition and/or practical implementation of these key provisions of the Directive. Key actions for the European Commission: -Launch an EU campaign to raise awareness about victims’ rights and to promote specialist support and protection for victims with specific needs; -Promote training activities for judicial and law enforcement authorities; -Provide EU funding to national victim support organisations and relevant community-based organisations to provide information, support and protection for victims, and to promote restorative justice services. Key actions for the Member States: -Ensure full and correct implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive and other EU rules on victims of particular crimes, in particular in relation to provisions on victims’ access to information, to support and protection; -Launch national awareness campaigns about victims’ rights, including support for victims with specific needs; -Support civil society in strengthening victims’ rights, including with the help of available EU funding. Key actions for other stakeholders: Victim support organisations: -Engage with national authorities, including judicial and law enforcement authorities, and participate in mutual training activities. 2.Improving support and protection of the most vulnerable victims All victims of crime are vulnerable, but because of their personal characteristics, the nature of the crime suffered or personal circumstances some victims are even more vulnerable than others.

The situation of vulnerability of some victims may worsen in specific circumstances. During confinement measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, victims of domestic violence are more exposed to violence (as they are confined under one roof with their offenders) and their access to support and protection is limited. National support and protection measures need to be effective for all victims and at all times. For victims of domestic violence, it means that shelters, helplines and psychological aid should be available also during a crisis. In order to guarantee support and protection for all victims during the crisis, including victims of domestic violence, victim support measures should be integrated in the national pandemic emergency schemes. It can be achieved by for instance declaring victim support services as essential services. Most Member States have taken special measures of support and protection for victims of crime during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures. In particular, it is crucial to ensure effective access to on- and off-line support services, including psychological aid and other social services. Victims of domestic violence in particular should have access to shelters, psychological aid, trauma support and counselling. National enforcement authorities should also be particularly vigilant to the registered and new cases of domestic violence. It is also crucial to ensure physical protection of victims. The Commission has been promoting the exchange of good practices on optimal means to ensure victims’ access to support and protection during the COVID-19 pandemic by engaging with the national authorities and civil society. The Commission will draw conclusions from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for victims of crime in order to build better resilience of victims’ support structures within our societies. In particular, the Commission will draw on good practices on victims’ rights collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will promote actions such as declaration of victims’ support services as essential services, development of on-line support services, and inclusion of civil society in victims’ support and protection. EU rules on victims’ rights require Member States to ensure that victims have access to general and specialised support services that are confidential, free of charge and respond to victims’ individual needs. Under the Victims’ Rights Directive, general support services should provide information, advice, emotional and psychological support and refer to medical aid. In addition such services should protect the privacy of victims and their families. All victims with specific needs should have access to specialised support services that are based on an integrated and targeted approach, which takes into account the specific needs of victims, the severity of the harm suffered, the relationship between the victim and the offender and the situation of victims in their wider social environment. The Victims’ Rights Directive also requires that all victims have access to protection in accordance with their individual needs. Special attention must be paid to victims with specific needs of protection from the risks of secondary, repeat victimisation, intimidation and retaliation. Victims of gender-based violence are often heavily impacted because of the nature, circumstances and consequences of different forms of criminal offences, including domestic violence, sexual violence, and/or trafficking in human beings. The scale of gender-based violence in the EU is alarming: one in three women (33 %) has experienced physical and/or sexual violence since she was 15 years old. Under the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the Commission is working to end gender-based violence against women and girls. Actions include the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention or alternative legislative measures that achieve the same objective. The Commission will also launch an EU network on the prevention of gender-based violence and domestic violence and will take actions to protect the safety of victims of gender-based cybercrime in particular by facilitating the development of a framework for cooperation between internet platforms and other stakeholders. The Commission will focus on strengthening victims’ physical protection. In particular, the Commission will continue to promote the use of European protection orders for persons in need of protection who travel or move to another EU country. The number of European protection orders issued and executed in the European Union is very low. The underlying reasons of this situation include a lack of awareness about the availability, wide variety, complexity and inefficiency of protection measures available in the Member States. The effectiveness of European protection orders indeed depends on the underlying national measures on victims’ physical protection. Currently, national measures are insufficient and victims are still not safe even if covered by protection orders. In particular, the specific needs of women applying for national or European protection orders are not sufficiently taken into account and reflected in national measures for physical protection. EU rules do not harmonise the nature of national protection measures or the procedures established under national law to ensure victims’ physical protection. The Victims’ Rights Directive (Article 18) provides for measures aimed at victims’ emotional or psychological support and protection, but procedures for the physical protection of victims and their family members from further violence are left to national law. That is why the Commission will consider further strengthening victims’ protection by introducing minimum standards on victims’ physical protection, including minimum conditions on issuing and modalities of protection measures (such as protection and barring orders).In addition, the Commission will continue promoting the effective application of national and European protection orders by providing funding possibilities under the Justice programme and by raising awareness and stressing the need to train practitioners about the availability of the European protection order. The Commission will also encourage Member States to set up Family Houses providing targeted and integrated support for victims of gender-based violence. The Commission will promote the setting up of such Family Houses via the EU campaign on victims’ rights, available EU funding, and contacts with the relevant stakeholders. When it comes to victims who require targeted and integrated support and protection, it is crucial to mention child victims. The Commission will continue to enforce EU rules under the Victims’ Rights Directive specifically aimed at children in line with the general principle that if a victim is a child, the child’s best interests shall be the primary concern. The Commission is also reinforcing monitoring of the national legal schemes in relation to their child-friendliness. In 2021, the Commission intends to adopt a Comprehensive strategy on the rights of the child that will contain targeted actions on child victims of crime such as a continuous promotion of Child’s Houses. When it comes to children victims of sexual abuse, the Commission intends to adopt a specific strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse in 2020. This strategy will include actions aimed at supporting and protecting child victims of sexual abuse. The Commission will strengthen cooperation between law enforcement, the INHOPE network of hotlines and industry. The Commission will explore the latest technological developments for swifter detection and removal of online child sexual abuse material. Another group of particularly vulnerable victims who require specialist and integrated support are victims of terrorism. Terrorist attacks are directed not only against individuals, but also against states and against our free and open societies without borders. Member States must live up to their responsibility and ensure the necessary support, protection and recognition of these victims. Terrorist attacks often target tourist destinations or travelling hubs, thus particularly affecting cross-border victims. Consequently, when pursuing their rights, victims of terrorism are particularly likely to be subjected to the challenges of cross-border situations. To promote integrated support for victims of terrorism in all EU Member States, in January 2020 the Commission launched the EU Centre of expertise for victims of terrorism as a two-year pilot project. The EU Centre will inter alia provide for guidance and training activities on victims’ rights and victims’ needs that will be based on the best practices of affected Member States. The Commission will ensure the smooth running of this pilot project and assess the need for its continuation by the end of 2021. Despite EU Member States efforts, hate crime in the EU is increasing. Concerns are rising over civil society organisations, activists and politicians becoming targets of hate crime. Provision of support to its victims is vital to enable and strengthen democratic discourse. Hate crime also disproportionately affects certain communities such as Jews, Roma, Muslims, people of African descent, migrants and the LGBTI+ community, notably those who are targeted on multiple grounds. In relation to victims’ rights, the Commission’s initiatives against racism and xenophobia aim at fostering reporting of hate crime, improving accurate investigation of bias motivations and support to victims of racism and xenophobia. The Commission will continue to implement the recently adopted guiding principles on ensuring justice, protection and support for victims of hate crime and hate speech. Moreover, the Commission will continue to support Member States in the process of developing national strategies on combating antisemitism to empower and protect victims of anti-Semitic hate crimes. In addition, actions on victims’ rights will be coordinated with activities under the upcoming initiative for Roma equality, inclusion and the upcoming LGBTI+ Equality Strategy. The Commission will also promote targeted and integrated support to victims of hate crime that will include close cooperation with the relevant communities. In this regard, the Commission will continue to work with the two recently set up working groups at improving support for victims and at providing training for police. The Commission will also pay particular attention to support and protection of victims belonging to ethnic groups and minorities that are particularly exposed to crime and/or are in need of special support and protection. Persons with disabilities are often victims of hate crime and of different forms of abuse. In addition, their access to justice may be more difficult if they are deprived of their legal capacity. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States Parties to take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons with disabilities, who become victims of any form of exploitation, violence or abuse. In this regard, actions under this strategy will be in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Elderly persons, because of their limited mobility, general state of health or dependencies from others (including family members or staff at the residential care centres) can be also more vulnerable to become victims of different forms of crime. It is therefore crucial to ensure that specialist support and protection that responds to the elderly persons’ individual needs are in place.

Particular attention should be also paid to victims of organised crime. Trafficking in human beings is a particular form of organised crime. It has devastating effects on the victims due to the nature, circumstances, duration and consequences of the crime. Victims of trafficking in human beings need special assistance, support and protection. In the EU, almost half of the victims of trafficking in human beings registered are EU citizens, the majority of all victims are women and girls, who are trafficked mainly for sexual exploitation. The EU addresses trafficking in human beings comprehensively through coordination in all relevant areas and as a joint effort with stakeholders. In particular, the Commission is working on a new strategic approach towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings as part of the Security Union. The actions towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings will be also further developed in the context of the upcoming initiatives to tackle organised crime. Environmental crime affects all of society, it may have particularly detrimental effect on individuals. It may impact personal health, livelihoods and lower property values. Victims of environmental crime may be particularly susceptible to secondary victimisation, intimidation and retaliation. Notably if environmental crime is a form of organised crime. Such victims should have access to specialist support and protection. Irregular migrants who become victims of crime are also often in a situation of vulnerability and may have difficulty to access justice. If they report a crime to the police, they may be ordered to return to their home country. Under the Victims’ Rights Directive, victims’ rights shall apply to victims in a non-discriminatory manner, independently of their residence status . This shall also apply to unaccompanied minors. Under this strategy, the Commission will assess legal and practical tools at EU level to improve reporting of crime and access to support services for migrant victims, independently of their residence status. In particular, the Commission will promote exchange of good practices among the Member States aimed at disconnecting reporting of crime from the return procedure without jeopardising the effectiveness of such procedures. Another group of victims in a situation of particular vulnerability are victims of crime committed in detention. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of prisoners suffer from violence each year. Their access to justice is often limited. They are isolated, stigmatised and have limited access to information. Under this strategy, the Commission will explore means to provide for effective support and protection of victims in detention such as protocols for the protection of victims in detention and independent detention bodies to investigate crime in detention. The Commission will also promote training for detention staff under the upcoming strategy on European Judicial Training. A targeted and integrated support to the most vulnerable victims that takes a holistic, multi-agency approach requires close cooperation of authorities with the relevant organisations and ethnic, religious and other minority communities. Under this strategy, the Commission will pay great attention to the promotion of such synergies. The main responsibility lies however with the Member States, who should set up the relevant structures and facilitate the necessary synergies between the authorities and the civil society. Other actors are also invited to strengthen their activities to support and protect the most vulnerable victims. Key actions for the European Commission: -Promote actions that draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as on-line support services and declaration of victims’ support services as essential services; -Promote integrated and targeted support to victims with special needs, such as child victims, victims of gender-based or domestic violence, victims of racist and xenophobic hate crime, LGBTI+ victims of hate crime, elderly victims and victims with disabilities, through EU funding possibilities and the EU awareness campaign on victims’ rights; -EU accession to the Istanbul Convention or alternative measures that achieve the same objective; -Assess introduction of minimum standards on victims’ physical protection, including minimum conditions on issuing and modalities of protection measures, and where necessary present legislative proposals by 2022; -Implement the guiding principles on ensuring protection and support for victims of hate crime and hate speech; -Facilitate cooperation between Member States to improve support for victims of terrorism, particularly in cross-border cases, through the pilot EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism; -Assess tools at EU level to allow for reporting of crime for migrant victims, independently of their residence status, and for victims in detention, and where necessary present legislative proposals by 2022. Key actions for the Member States: -Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, take action to ensure that victims of gender-based and domestic violence have access to support and protection that is integrated into the national pandemic emergency measures, including continuous access to shelters and helplines, and by strengthening the inclusion of civil society in victims’ support and protection; -Set up integrated and targeted specialist support services for the most vulnerable victims, including Child Houses, Family Houses, LGBTI+ safe houses, disability inclusive and accessible services and venues and independent detention bodies to investigate crime in detention; -Take actions to ensure that all victims, including migrant victims have access to justice independently of their residence status; -Take actions to ensure that child victims have access to child-friendly justice; -Exchange best practices among EU Member States on support and protection to the most vulnerable victims, including victims of terrorism;

-Take actions to ensure that victims of terrorism are recognised, e.g. consider setting up memorials, museums and medals; -Facilitate cooperation and ensure a coordinated approach to victims’ rights between judicial and law enforcement authorities, health care and social workers, other relevant practitioners and civil society organisations to provide for targeted and integrated support for the most vulnerable victims; -Facilitate cooperation between Member States’ competent authorities or entities providing specialist support to ensure the effective access of victims of terrorism to relevant information in cross-border cases. Key actions for other stakeholders: -Civil society organisations - to be involved in providing support to victims in cooperation with the relevant national authorities. 3. Facilitating victims’ access to compensation In many Member States, victims’ access to compensation is difficult. Victims can claim state compensation only at the end of a long, often expensive and time-consuming process, which starts with criminal proceedings and is followed by attempts to receive compensation from the offender. As illustrated by the report on victims’ compensation, the underlying reasons include lack of sufficient information about victims’ rights to compensation, numerous procedural hurdles including restrictive time limits, insufficient allocations from national budgets and complicated rules governing offender compensation and state compensation. For victims in cross-border situations it is even more difficult to receive compensation from the State in which they were victimised in spite of the existence of the EU rules in this area. All relevant actors should take steps, within their respective competences, to improve victims’ access to compensation. Under the Compensation Directive, Member States shall ensure that their national rules provide for the existence of a scheme on compensation to victims of violent intentional crimes committed on their territories, which guarantees fair and appropriate compensation to victims. The Commission recommends that Member States make their national schemes of compensation more victims-friendly by simplifying rules on access to compensation and by increasing available amounts of compensation by adapting national budgets. Under the Victims’ Rights Directive, Member States shall also ensure that victims are informed from the first contact with the competent authorities how and under what circumstances they can access compensation. The Commission will encourage Member States to go beyond these minimum standards and ensure that victims are better informed about national schemes of compensation also by other means – such as general informative campaigns about victims’ rights and inter-active websites. The overall objective of compensation is to recognise victims of violent intentional crime and to add to the healing process. Under no circumstances, victims should be exposed to the risks of secondary victimisation during the compensation procedure. Member States should ensure that victims are protected from risks of secondary victimisation not only during criminal proceedings, but also when claiming compensation. In this context, consideration should also be given to victims of terrorism, creating a particular responsibility of each Member State to assure fair and appropriate compensation. When it comes to facilitating victims’ access to compensation, the Commission will monitor the implementation of existing EU legislation, notably the Compensation Directive and the Framework Decision on mutual recognition of financial penalties to see how and to what extent it could be improved to facilitate victims’ access to compensation. The Regulation on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders will also contribute to facilitate victims’ access to restitution of property and victims’ compensation in cross-border cases, once applicable. The 2014 Directive on freezing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime which harmonises freezing and confiscation regimes across the EU requires Member States to ensure that a confiscation order does not prevent victims of a criminal offence from seeking compensation for their claims. The Commission will analyse the possibilities to improve victims’ access to compensation under this Directive. The Commission and Member States should also examine how to improve coordination and cooperation among the Member States to facilitate victims’ access to compensation in cross-border cases. In particular, Member States should improve their cooperation within the European network on national contact points for compensation. The European Network on Victims’ Rights (ENVR) and the European network of national contact points for compensation should explore how to improve their cooperation and make the network more efficient. Key actions for the European Commission: -Monitor and assess EU legislation on compensation, (including state compensation and offenders’ compensation), including the Framework Decision on mutual recognition of financial penalties, and if necessary propose measures to complement this framework by 2022. Key actions for the Member States: -Evaluate national compensation schemes and, if necessary, eliminate the existing procedural hurdles; -Ensure that fair and appropriate state compensation for violent, intentional crimes, including victims of terrorism is reflected in the national budgets; -Ensure full application of the Regulation on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders, in particular its provisions on restitution of property to the victim and victims’ compensation; -Take actions to ensure that victims are not exposed to secondary victimisation during the compensation procedure; -Facilitate homogeneous access to information about national compensation schemes (set up interactive, accessible and user-friendly websites);

-Ensure that the staff of national compensation authorities are aware of victims’ rights and needs to avoid risks of secondary victimisation; -Cooperate with other Member States in cross-border cases within the relevant EU structures. Key actions for other stakeholders: -The European Network on Victims’ Rights and the European network of contact points for compensation – to explore how to improve their cooperation and increase the efficiency of the latter; -Victim support organisations – to engage with the national compensation authorities to offer their support, exchange of best practices and mutual training activities.



WORKING TOGETHER FOR VICTIMS’ RIGHTS 4. Strengthening cooperation and coordination among all relevant actors The main objective of strengthening cooperation and coordination at EU and national level is to ensure that all relevant actors work together to ensure victims’ access to justice. Under EU rules on victims’ rights, all victims of crime should be recognised and treated in a respectful, professional, tailored and non-discriminatory manner. This requires the involvement of all relevant actors. At the national level, it is crucial to bring together all persons who are coming into contact with victims. They include police, judicial authorities, court staff, victim support services, practitioners and compensation authorities. For some victims, it is also crucial to involve medical staff, education staff, social services staff, or detention staff. In fact, entire societies should be involved in ensuring that all victims are recognised, respected and able to fully rely on their rights. The Commission will promote coordination and cooperation at national level. Member States should set up national victims’ rights strategies that ensure coordinated and horizontal approach to victims’ rights. Such policies can include appointment of national victims’ rights coordinators or ombudspersons responsible for victims’ rights, launching national victims’ rights awareness campaigns and mainstreaming victims’ rights into other policies such as health and education. Stronger cooperation between all actors on victims’ rights will also result in creating societies that are more resilient. In such societies, thanks to strong societal bonds, it is easier to prevent crime and to address its consequences for particular victims. Strong cooperation and alliances between national authorities and civil society, including non-governmental victim support organisations is crucial in this regard. The strategy will thus promote actions aimed at tapping on the potential of such synergies. At the EU level, the Commission will set up the Victims’ Rights Platform to ensure a more horizontal approach to victims’ rights. The Platform will bring together for the first time all EU level actors relevant for victims’ rights. It will include the Commission and key actors such as the European Network on Victims’ Rights (ENVR), the EU Network of national contact points for compensation, the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET), the EU Counter–Terrorism Coordinator and relevant agencies such as Eurojust, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and civil society. The Victims’ Rights Platform will facilitate continuous dialogue, exchange of best practices and cross-fertilisation between this strategy, the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and several upcoming strategies. A Commission’s Victims’ Rights’ Coordinator will ensure consistency and effectiveness of different actions in relation to the victims’ rights policy. In particular, the Commission Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring a smooth functioning of the Victims’ Rights Platform. The Coordinator will also synchronize the victims’ rights related actions of other EU level stakeholders, notably if relevant to the application of the Victims’ Rights Directive. Key actions for the European Commission: -Set up the Victims’ Rights Platform – gathering EU level actors relevant in the area of victims’ rights and ensuring synergy with other relevant policy strategies. Key actions for the Member States:

-Set up national victims’ rights strategies that take a comprehensive and holistic approach to victims’ rights and involve all actors likely to come into contact with victims; -Promote victims’ rights among all actors likely to come into contact with victims, including police, support services and health-care staff; -Facilitate operation of the relevant EU level networks regrouping national experts on victims’ rights, such as the European Network on Victims’ Rights (ENVR); -Take actions aimed at building societies that are more resilient by promoting higher involvement of the civil society into national actions. Key actions for other EU bodies and stakeholders: -Eurojust, the Fundamental Rights Agency, the European Institute for Gender Equality and the European Network on Victims’ Rights should report on how to improve the cooperation and exchange of information and good practices between the competent authorities in cross-border cases.



5. Strengthening the international dimension of victims’ rights The recently adopted Action Plan on human rights and democracy (2020-2024) reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting, protecting and fulfilling human rights worldwide. The European Union aims at ensuring that high standards of victims’ rights are met in all contexts, including in international instances. The Action Plan also covers actions related to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and thereby enables attention to victims of crimes and abuses committed in the context of the private sector, including victims of environmental crimes. The EU global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has included responses to human rights threats and to a rise in domestic violence. As part of the Team Europe support to partner countries to face the pandemic, the EU has continued to monitor human rights and democracy and has redirected programmes to ensure that victims in partner countries receive the necessary support and protection. The EU and its Member States will continue to engage with and within the United Nations and the Council of Europe to promote EU victims’ rights in partner countries and to exchange best practices. In particular, the EU will continue to promote high standards on victims’ rights of EU’s geographic and thematic programmes on access to justice that are already in the implementation phase in partner countries. In particular, the EU continues to support the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls across five regions around the globe. The EU also cooperates with FIFA and WHO in campaigns against domestic violence. The EU will support the International Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and the WeProtect Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. The EU will also continue to support capacity building actions for priority partner countries in relation to support for victims of terrorism. In particular, the EU will continue to support the UN-led initiatives and projects aimed at enhancing UN Member States’ capacities to assist victims of terrorism, such as ‘Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism’ led by Afghanistan and Spain or the organisation of the global Congress of Victims of Terrorism by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and by Spain. In addition, the EU will promote further the EU standards on victims’ rights (including EU rights for victims of terrorism, victims of organised crime, victims of environmental crimes and EU victims’ rights in general) within new programmes that will be developed under the new multiannual financial framework (2021-2027). In the context of accession negotiations and the Stabilisation and Association Process, the EU will continue to work closely with the candidate and potential candidate countries to strengthen victims’ rights. The EU will also focus on ensuring optimal access to justice for EU citizens victimised in third countries. It requires closer contact and cooperation between authorities and support organisations of third countries and consular authorities and support organisations of EU Member States. The European Union, through its High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security will encourage and facilitate such cooperation to improve support and protection for EU citizens victimised in third countries. Key actions for the European Union: -Strengthen cooperation with international and regional partners, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe to promote high international standards for victims’ rights, including the rights of victims of hate crime, child victims, victims of terrorism, migrant victims, victims of sexual and gender-based violence, LGBTI+ victims of hate crime, victims of organised crime, victims of environmental crime and victims with disabilities; -Use EU funding and political dialogue to promote, advocate and protect victims’ rights and to ensure access to justice for victims in partner countries;