On Thursday 14 March, MEPs on the Women’s Rights (FEMM) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committees adopted by 70 votes to 1, with 11 abstentions, the draft report on the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive, revised rules aimed at strengthening victims’ rights and making it safer to report crime. All seven compromise amendments were adopted.
This proposal, issued by the European Commission in July 2023 (see EUROPE 13221/17), aims to remedy the shortcomings of the 2012 directive.
It ensures that victims are better informed of their rights and offers a fast-track assessment for vulnerable victims, such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, victims of hate crimes and victims in custody, facilitating their access to specialist help and improving their participation in criminal proceedings through more in-depth legal advice.
The text put forward by MEPs aims to guarantee more effective protection for victims through a number of key measures: - establishing a free, accessible, safe, confidential and user-friendly way of reporting crime, including online, ensuring that Member States provide free legal aid to victims in need, and training public authorities in contact with victims to deal with them in a non-discriminatory and professional manner; - the protection of communications between victims and professionals providing support services against any improper disclosure.
In addition, the draft report requires Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that victims who are third country nationals can report acts that may constitute a criminal offence and are treated in a non-discriminatory manner.
MEPs also stressed the need for Member States to ensure that victim support services, both governmental and non-governmental, have sufficient specialised human and financial resources. In addition, regular awareness-raising campaigns will have to be put in place to ensure that victims are informed of their rights, and specific measures are planned to protect the dignity of victims against secondary victimisation.
The speeches by the two co-rapporteurs, Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spanish) for the LIBE Committee and María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew Europe, Spanish) for the FEMM Committee, highlighted the work accomplished in record time.
Mr Zarzalejos stated that this directive placed victims at the heart of its concerns, particularly the most vulnerable, such as minors who have allegedly suffered abuse, and women. Ms Rodríguez Ramos welcomed the improvements in protection for victims with regard to the right to reparation and access to assistance and information during criminal proceedings.
The draft report (https://aeur.eu/f/bbn ) will be put to the vote at the plenary session in early April.
Compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/bbm (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)