Based on the results of a symposium organised on 2-3 April with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, Eurojust, published a report on victims’ rights on Friday 13 June.
The event highlighted the difficulty of identifying victims as one of the main issues to be addressed.
This is a multi-faceted issue that differs depending on the crime, which means that legal responses need to be adapted.
Examples include migrants, who are reluctant to report a crime relating to their trafficking for fear of being deported, and the blurred procedural status of victims of human trafficking, linked to the fact that victims may commit offences.
The cross-border and complex nature of investigations and prosecutions also adds to the difficulties.
The role of Eurojust. According to the report, by “compiling lists of victims in different jurisdictions” and “detailing the amount and nature of their loss or damage, along with their location”, Eurojust can facilitate identification.
In addition, the EU agency can support a more standardised approach - to ensure equal treatment of people in similar situations - and support national authorities in identifying foreign victims, disseminating information to them, and avoiding their secondary victimisation.
With regard to the under-reporting of crimes, Eurojust can encourage victims to use specialised portals and allow costs advanced during proceedings to be reimbursed to victims.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/hdh (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)