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Webinar report
Here is the webinar report:
Webinar Getting to Know the Hub Community
VSE Hub
ReportIntroduction
On November 17 2021, Victim Support Europe (VSE ) organised the webinar ‘Getting to know the Hub Community’ in the Victim Support Hub.
This Webinar was the continuation of the Webinar ‘Coming Together and Re-connecting’. The purpose of this event was to share the work of some member organisations, including their current activities, projects, aims, etc.
This is also the whole purpose of the online Hub and the Training Academy: create a space where people could meet, get to know each other, share information, and engage in the manner in which they want to.
During the event, eight speakers presented their organisations and theirwork. A Q&A session was organised after each presentation, which provided an opportunity for more interaction and addressing the topics presented.
This report provides a short summary of the event.
Presentations
Lucia Formenti (EMDR Europe) presented the Association EMDR Europe composed of 34 National Associations and a network of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. The aim of the association is to improve lives of people affected by trauma and to prevent the long term effects of traumatic experiences. They want to provide high quality clinical training for professionals, people who work in the public mental health system, and all people who work with victims to raise awareness on the effects of traumatic experiences on people’s general health and well-being.
Lucia focused on how EMDR (which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can help victims recovering from trauma. The fields of intervention are numerous: the latest one is COVID but also mass disasters, both natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods and manmade disasters such as terrorism and crime.
Finally Lucia emphasised on how EMDR could be really useful in the above mentioned situations and underlined the importance of training different categories of people.
Miren Špek (Executive Director, Victim and Witness Support Service Croatia) started his presentation introducing the Witness Support Service in Croatia, and explained how support to victims in Croatia is provided. It is composed by State Institutions, Civil Society Organisations and the 116 006 National call center.
The main services are information support, emotional support, psychological support, legal counselling, legal aid, informative support/logistic support and accompaniment of victims.
Victim and Witness Support Services Croatia (VWSS Croatia) has several main programmes: the national call center, referral centres for victims, witnesses and legal aid providers and, the support of the victims in court. Next to this, VWSS works on several projects, such as Reactivation of the elderly, Stop violence against women and domestic violence, and Cornerstones of justice for victims of crime with disabilities.
Kevin Tso (Chief Executive, Victim Support New Zealand) could not attend the webinar but he recorded a video where he shared the highlights of the organisation’s current work in New Zealand.
Victim Support New Zealand is facing an increasing workload despite the develomnent of the organisation. Nevertheless the organisation has been able to respond positively to terrorist attack back in 2019 where victims were supported and criminals charged.
With the COVID crisis the organisation has been part of the Government response to the crisis.
The organisation has also been active in the advocacy approach with the Government with policies to ensure that the status of victims is elevated.
Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPye6h274Cc
Ioanna Petridou (officer at SPAVO Cyprus presented the association, whose mission is to provide support services protection and information. The association also provides prevention and awareness-raising programmes, educational seminars and training.
SPAVO offers services free of charges such as national and European helplines, a live chat, individual appointments with victims, social services shelters.
Sofia Barlind (Victim Support Sweden) presented Minerva, Victim Support Sweden’s combined system for case management, member registration and mass-email through a live demonstration.
Kate Wallace and Leah Soweid (Chief Executive Officer and Service User Engagement Officer at Victim Support Scotland ) provided a quick overview of the organisation that provides emotional, practical and court support and information about the criminal justice process and system to all people affected by crime. The support is given mainly by volunteers, who are managed by a small staff team. This includes emotional support, assistance and support during criminal justice proceedings and aims to ensure there is consistent support throughout for families.
In 2019, Victim Support Scotland established the specialised service Support Families Bereaved of Crime (SFBC ), which aimed at supporting the families whose loved one have been taken by murder or homicide.
Leah furthermore presented an overview of the work during COVID 19, mainly focussed on a freephone helpline, web chat facilities and virtual court tours. Additionaly, VSS launched its new 5 year strategy ‘Empowering victims’during the pandemic.
Kate also presented the Victims’ Fund which provides assistance to victims of crime whose number has increased due to COVID-19. The video is available on Youtube.
Brian Farrugia (Chief Executive Officer, Victim Support Agency Malta) presented the organisation as a public entity whose main purpose is to act as a national contact point for victims of crime. Their support services are free of charge and focus on emotional support, case information ( information and follow up about their cases, accompanying victims to court etc.), and legal guidance.
Additionaly, Victim Support Agency Malta also advocates for policy development at both the national and international level, as well as for the promotion of a multidisciplinary approach.
Katarzyna Dobrzańska- Junco (Board Member at the FEVR, European Federation of Road Traffic Victims) presented the Federation that offers help and assistance to road victims and campaign for their rights and for the reduction of road danger.
As this year is the start of a decade with new actions, FEVR’s advocacy strategy highlights the notions of prevention and response.
The organisation builds its network through (social) media campaigns, public appearances and advocacy, with a clear message to raise awareness to the challenge of better safety for vulnerable road users. Finally, FEVR published a book titled “Stories to be told, Voices to be heard”, showcasing the voices of victims.
Conclusions
We invite speakers and participants to regularly connect and share their information on the Hub in order to raise awareness on the latest developments of their activities. We also encourage them to post the relevant materials such as videos and leaflets they consider to be interesting on the Hub.
In conclusion, VSE looks back to an interesting and fruitful discussion. We thank all speakers and participants for their great participation in this event. We hope to welcome you again to our next online events that will take place in the near future on the Victim Support Hub.
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