Victim Support Hub

International Conference on Food Science and Technology
2025-05-10 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Brussels)
PAGES Conferences cordially invites you to its International Conference on Food Science and Technology (ICFST2025), a premier event focusing on the latest developments in the field of food science and technology which is going to be held in Frankfurt, Germany during September 04-06, 2025.

It is a premier global event that brings together leading experts, researchers, industry professionals, and academics to explore the latest advancements in food science, technology, and innovation. The conference aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the food industry.

With an emphasis on sustainability, food safety, novel food processing techniques, nutritional sciences, and emerging food trends, the event features a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, technical sessions, and hands-on workshops. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain insights into cutting-edge research, technological breakthroughs, and the future of food production, distribution, and consumption. Held in one of the most dynamic cities in the world, Frankfurt offers the perfect backdrop for this influential conference, providing a unique blend of modern infrastructure, diverse culture, and a thriving food and hospitality sector.

Join us for an enriching experience that promises to shape the future of food science!!!

XIV Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia
2024-11-28 08:00 - 2024-11-29 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Hotel Palace, Topličin venac 23, Belgrade, Serbia, Hotel Palace, Topličin venac 23, Belgrade, Serbia
The XIV Annual Conference of the Victimology Society of Serbia entitled ‘Caring for Victims and Routes to Recovery‘ will be held on November 28th and 29th, 2024 at Hotel Palace, Topličin venac 23 in Belgrade, Serbia.
The conference aims to bring together experts and researchers, who deal both theoretically and practically from the perspective of different disciplines within victims’ rights and who provide assistance, protection and care to victims of crime. A special focus will be on identifying innovative approaches to support victims on their road to recovery.
Caring for victims involves a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. This is particularly important in the contemporary social context, characterized by various forms of victimization at different levels. Globally, wars, international terrorism, and other forms of mass victimization, ecological crimes, violence against women and children, are part of everyday life for people around the world, creating numerous victims who need help and support to overcome the consequences of victimization and find pathways to recovery. These are some of the topics that will be analysed and discussed during the two-day conference.
Call for abstracts is available HERE.
Information on conference fees and registration is available HERE.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Milica Luković Radaković at +381112288040 or via email vdsconference@gmail.com and vdsrbija@gmail.com.

'The Bridge Over Troubled Water: Celebrating and Strengthening Victim Support' - Annual Conference 2024
2024-05-22 09:00 - 2024-05-23 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Hotel Antunovic Zagreb, Zagrebacka Avenija, 100 A, Zagreb, 10090, Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
REGISTER NOW!
Victim Support Europe and Victim and Witness Support Service Croatia are delighted to welcome you to the 2024 Annual General Meeting and Victim Support Europe’s Annual Conference – ‘The Bridge Over Troubled Water: Celebrating and Strengthening Victim Support’.
VSE Annual Conference 2024 will take place in Zagreb on 22 and 23 May 2024. It will be a hybrid conference, and we hope to welcome victim support community and affiliated professionals from around the world both on-site, at the Hotel Antunovic Zagreb, and digitally.
The 2024 edition builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, aspiring to create a collaborative space where stakeholders from diverse sectors converge to celebrate achievements, address challenges, and forge pathways for a more resilient and victim-centred future.

The Relevance of Psychosocial Knowledge for CBRNe Emergency Planning
2024-05-15 17:00 - 2024-05-16 22:00 (Europe/Brussels)
On May 15th and 16th, under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the National Crisis Centre (NCCN) and the Federal Public Health Service will host an event entitled ‘The Relevance of Psychosocial Knowledge for CBRNe Emergency Planning’ in Brussels, Belgium.
This seminar will highlight the significance of psychosocial knowledge for the development of CBRNe emergency planning. Guest speakers will discuss the challenges and potential solutions in human behaviour that are somewhat predictable, with the goal of aiding practitioners in emergency planning.
Beginning on the evening of May 15th, a reception will be held to welcome participants. On May 16th, the event will begin with lectures held in the morning and workshops in the afternoon to facilitate the exchange of best practices.
This event, conducted in English, is open to professionals in the sector, people with relevant emergency management backgrounds or academics with an interest in the importance of behavioural sciences for emergency planning.
To register, please fill out this form.

How Can We Support Human Rights Defenders' Relocation?
2024-03-20 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
How can we support human rights defenders at risk when they need to relocate to the EU? What support do they need once they have moved to safety? What is needed in terms of advocacy and awareness raising efforts?
Together with leading experts in this field, we will explore this topic in a webinar on Wednesday, 20 March, at 10:00 CET.
Please click here to register and receive the meeting link!
Speakers include:
Waltraud Heller (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights – FRA), Sasha Cherkasenko (relocated defender), Javier Roura (ProtectDefenders.eu), Jennifer Gaspar (Araminta Advisers), Sofie Korčyková (People in Need), Ivana Rosenzweigowa (European Center for Not-for-Profit Law) and Elisabeth Dyvik (International Cities for Refuge Network – ICORN).
In this session, we will:
1. revisit the relocation challenges that human rights defenders face
2. update you on key developments since FRA’s latest report on this topic (July 2023)
3. explore together how civil society organisations could advance the issue and support the relocated defenders
Please email frp@fra.europa.eu if you have questions or need help signing up!

“Leave No Victim Behind: Victims’ Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals” - EU Day for Victims of Crime 2024
2024-02-22 13:30 - 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | The Brussels Press Club, Brussels, Belgium
The European Day for Victims of Crime is an important annual milestone where we get the chance to highlight the crucial need for victim support. Join us for this year’s event, ‘Leave No Victim Behind: Victims’ Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals’, organised by Victim Support Europe and hosted at the Press Club Brussels on February 22nd, 2024 from 13:30 – 17:00 CET!
This event seeks to highlight the intrinsic connection between victims’ rights and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). By hearing victims’ testimonies and experts’ insights, the event will emphasise the need for an inclusive approach to sustainable development. The event concept envisions a dynamic and effective platform, where victims’ voices and experts’ insight combine to underscore the urgency of integrating victims’ rights within the SDG agenda. Through collaboration, actionable recommendations, and shared commitment, the event aims to foster positive victim-centric change and to contribute to a more just and sustainable society.
The UN sustainable development goals (SDG’s) offer a guideline for a just and sustainable future. At the heart of the SDG’s is an important call to action for all nations to band together to make this vision a reality. Specifically, we feel our work aligns with the following goals: No poverty (1), Good health and well-being (3), Quality education (4), Gender equality (5), Decent work and economic growth (8), Reduced inequalities (10), and Peace, justice and strong institutions (16). Victim Support Europe is committed to leaving no victim behind, and by relating this concept to that of the SDG’s, we feel we can improve the support available to victims of crime, therefore creating societal conditions that align with these goals.
To attend this event, please register here (Closing date: Monday, February 19th 2024).
To see the event programme, visit our webpage.

2nd Edition of the CEP Workshop on Gender-based Violence in Probation
2023-11-29 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | Centre for Legal Studies and Specialized Training, C/ de Pau Claris, 158, Barcelona, 08009, Spain
This workshop is an important initiative to address gender-based violence, focusing on issues such as gender inequality, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. It brings together probation and criminal justice professionals to discuss effective strategies and share knowledge.
Key Highlights:

Plenary presentations from five different jurisdictions and perspectives on how to prevent and work on gender-based violence (prevention and intervention programmes)
Round table discussion: How do we work transnationally on gender-based violence?
World Café session: Knowledge sharing and mutual learning

Programme
To view the detailed program click here.
Registration and fees
Registration is open, and we encourage you to secure your spot by registering now. The event is just around the corner, and we’d love to have you join us in Barcelona.Click here to registerRegistration Details:

For CEP members, the participation fee is 25 EUR.
For non-CEP members, the participation fee is 50 EUR.

Please be aware that CEP members who wish to attend this event but who are not able to (fully) fund their attendance, may fill in the form on the CEP website to apply for a bursary.The registration deadline is 13 November 2023
We believe this event will contribute to the development of your professional skills and enhance the effectiveness of your work. We’re looking forward to your presence and participation in the discussions.
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you in Barcelona for this event.
Best regards,

Workshop: The Role of Neutralisation in Responding to the Disclosure of Childhood Sexual Abuse
2023-11-15 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
In this workshop Claire Cunnington will speak about what helps and hinders recovery, about preferred terminology and the audience will have an opportunity to watch her film ‘Flow’ about disclosure of childhood sexual abuse to health services. Claire will also discuss her article “They would rather not have known and me kept my mouth shut: The role of neutralisation in responding to the disclosure of childhood sexual abuse.” She will argue for a strengths-based approach to recovering.
Dr Claire Cunnington is a researcher at the University of Sheffield and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. Claire believes that the knowledge gained by adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse can be utilised to help children and other adults today. Her Wellcome Trust funded doctoral research asked adults recovering from childhood sexual abuse what helped and hindered their recovery. The resulting film ‘Flow’ co-produced with other survivors, NHS England and the Department of Health has been selected as a finalist
by the Birmingham International Film Festival and Women Deliver Arts & Film Festival (Rwanda).
Workshop will be held via Zoom platform.
Working language: English. Simultaneous translation to Serbian provided.
Apply to participate via email: itcentar@eunet.rs
Application deadline: Monday, November 13, 2023 (closing at 14.00 CET)

Final Conference '#PreventGBV: Early prevention of gender-based cyberviolence for young people in conflict with the law in juvenile justice systems'
2023-11-03 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre, Rue Du Midi 135, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
The #PreventGBV project, co-financed by the CERV-2021-DAPHNE Programme of the European Union, seeks to prevent gender-based cyberviolence in young people in conflict with the law. To help them identify and prevent this violence, training and awareness materials have been produced in order to conduct workshops.
During the Conference, numerous professionals and experts will talk about different aspects of gender violence in the digital realm and its relationship with education and juvenile justice. In addition, the results and materials of the project will be presented.
The Conference will also feature the participation of young people who will talk about their collaboration with the project.
Check the complete programme for this event (updating):
https://www.fundaciondiagrama.es/en/m/preventgbv/introduction
This event is free of charge. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/232882754573366

FYDO Network Webinar: "Fur-ever Friends: FYDO dogs supporting victims of crimes"
2023-10-12 13:30 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Do you believe the presence of a dog has healing powers? Are you curious to know how dogs can support victims? Do you think you could work with a dog to provide victim support? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” or “I am not sure”, then join us on 12 October, between 13:30 and 16:00 for the first public webinar of the European FYDO Network, where we’ll explore the myriad of possibilities for rolling out and expanding the facility dog service across Europe. Our panel of speakers will talk about:

What it takes to train a FYDO dog
What it takes to employ a FYDO dog
How it is to work with a FYDO dog
How victims benefit from a FYDO dog

If you work with victims, and you are curious to hear how you a dog can work with you, or if you are a dog trainer, interested to know how a dog can be employed to support victims, join us and prepare to be part of something extraordinary.
Register NOW by clicking HERE, and get ready to join us for an enlightening and heartwarming experience this October. We can’t wait to see you online!
? Date: 12 October 2023
? Time: 13:30 to 16:00
? Location: Online

VSE Annual Conference 2023
2023-06-07 00:00 - 2023-06-09 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | Berlin, Germany
Victim Support Europe and Weisser Ring are happy to announce the save the date for the 2023 VSE Annual Conference – Protecting fundamental freedoms, a victim’s perspective!
The Conference will be a three-day event, taking place on 7, 8 and 9th of June in Berlin, Germany. We are transforming the event’s format in 2023 – in addition to the usual two conference days, an extra day will be added in between to target a particular stakeholder in the field of victim support: law enforcement.

Workshop: Best practices for setting up online prevention- and awareness-raising campaigns
2023-03-07 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Brussels) | VSE hub – online
Workshop: Best practices for setting up online prevention- and awareness-raising campaigns
Hosted by: Julie Bellinkx, Head of Unit – Responsible for PR, campaigns, training at AMBER Alert Europe Foundation
When? 7 March 2023
Though it sometimes seems simple and straightforward, setting up a successful online prevention- and awareness-raising campaign can be a complex endeavor. There are many factors to take into consideration: who is the target audience, how can I reach the target audience, how can I make sure that the campaign hits its target, which format works best, what is the best timing, what concept is out-of-the-box enough to generate attention but still appropriate and suitable?
During this workshop, Julie will be talking about her experience in setting up online prevention- and awareness-raising campaigns. She will highlight which factors to take into consideration when you are planning to launch an online prevention- and awareness-raising campaign and have it effectively unfold before the target audience.

Achieving Safe Justice for Victims of Crime
2023-02-20 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels) | The Brussels Press Club, Brussels, Belgium
Victim Support Europe will commemorate the European Day for Victims of Crime on Monday, 20 February 2023 with an in-person event ‘Achieving Safe Justice for Victims of Crime’ at The Press Club Brussels Europe. The event, which will take place from 14:00 to 16:00 (CET), will simultaneously be broadcast live on the Brussels Press Club TV.
On this year’s Day for Victims of Crime, we call on all of you to fight for progress, to support improvements in European and national laws, and above all to make sure those laws truly help all victims of crime, no matter the crime, no matter the victim.
With the upcoming review of the 2012 Victims’ Rights Directive, the EU legislation governing the rights and services for all victims of crime, 2023 presents us with an opportunity to really make a difference to the lives of victims.
The theme for this year is “Achieving Safe Justice for Victims of Crime”. Up till now, victims have often been adversely affected on their journey for justice. VSE believes that, when evaluating whether justice has been served, one should not only focus on the efficiency and availability of fair trial rights but should rather see the process from the perspective of the victims and their well-being and safety during the legal proceedings.

JOIN THE DEBATE
Our event on 20 February gives victims an opportunity to share their personal stories and experiences of justice systems. It will open with a victim of 2016 Brussels Terrorist Attacks sharing his interaction with the Belgian criminal justice system and his vision for such systems to provide more supportive and victim-sensitive responses.
VSE will then launch its discussion paper on “Safe Justice for Victims of a Crime”, introducing an innovative vision on the concept of safe justice. The programme will feature European policy makers, victim support workers, law enforcement officers, judges, and EU NGO representatives sharing their views on the meaning of safe justice for victims and on the requirements for successful criminal justice systems.
If you are planning on attending the event in person, please register in this link.

EFRJ's Winter Academy 2023
2023-01-30 08:00 - 2023-02-03 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
European Forum for Restorative Justice is launching its first in person Winter Academy on restorative justice, which will take place between 30 January – 3 February 2023. One of the courses – “Victims’ Needs and Restorative Justice: Good Practices and Safeguards” – is addressing, among others, victim support professionals.

The EFRJ Winter Academy creates a new international learning opportunity for those interested in restorative justice and its high-quality applications in different contexts. It includes three parallel practice-oriented courses led by experienced trainers. These courses invite participants to develop and strengthen their skills, get a hands-on experience of good practices, to get challenged by complex questions, and inspired by innovative and nuanced methods.
The course “Victims’ Needs and Restorative Justice: Good Practices and Safeguards” will develop the skills of professionals working in direct contact with victims of crime or supporting the practical implementation of victims’ rights. Participants will better understand how restorative justice responds to the (justice, safety, and other) needs of victims and will help to make a better offer/assessment/referral of victims for restorative justice services.
The course focuses on the challenges and opportunities of restorative justice from the victims’ perspective, looking at the different steps that may ensure access to high-quality restorative justice for victims. The course will focus on the needs of victims, the awareness of criminal justice professionals and the general public on restorative justice, the resistance and fears towards its use (especially in specific type of crimes and/or vulnerable groups), the inter-agency cooperation needed to support referrals and access to the services, the methodologies in place to offer restorative justice to victims (and responsible for the harm), the actual facilitation of the dialogical process, the follow-up of the (potential) agreement, and the evaluation of the overall service.

Aim of the course “Victims’ Needs and Restorative Justice: Good Practices and Safeguards”
To understand better the victims’ needs and experience in the restorative justice process and to clarify the actual implementation of restorative justice programmes (from the referral procedure to the offer to the actual delivery of the service) in order to support access to restorative justice services for all victims of crime. After the course, participants should be able to inform the victims better and to adapt their practices/service to more efficiently meet victims’ needs.

Learning outcomes

To understand values, principles and practices of restorative justice;
To identify victims’ needs and to understand how restorative justice takes into consideration these needs;
To clarify the role of different professionals in ensuring access to restorative justice for victims (and responsible of the harm);
To understand the challenges and opportunities of referring victims to restorative justice services.

Who should participate?
This course is meant for all professionals working with and for victims of crime (practitioners, policymakers, researchers). In particular:

Victim support workers, working in direct contact with victims and willing to understand more about restorative justice;
Victims’ rights advocates, researching and/or drafting policies to support victims of crime (including victims’ associations);
Restorative justice practitioners, working in direct contact with victims and willing to understand more about their needs;
Criminal justice professionals, possibly having direct contacts with victims (law enforcement, judiciary, etc.), willing to understand why/when/how to refer cases to victim support and restorative justice services;
Other professionals having direct contacts with victims (emergency, mental health care, crisis centres, etc.), also when crimes are not reported, with a potential role to inform them about the existence of restorative justice services.

Trainers
One of the two trainers is Peter Crory, Head of Service for VSE member organisation Victim Support Northern Ireland. He leads on restorative justice for the organisation and is an experienced facilitator, working primarily on victim-initiated cases, to ensure a safe process that helps them on their recovery journey. He works closely with partners in prisons and probation to facilitate best practice. Victim Support NI is an accredited restorative organisation delivering a range of restorative justice training each year. He has previously worked in the voluntary sector for many years in Scotland and Ireland.
Peter is married to Pauline and has two grown up children. He volunteers to chair trustees at his local youth and community centre, is a keen mountain biker and, only recently, a novice sailor.

Practical
The EFRJ launches its first in person Winter Academy on restorative justice taking place between 30 January – 3 February 2023. It is a residential event hosted in Leuven (Belgium), a significant European hub for restorative justice.
The event also offers common learning activities (plenary dialogues, discussions, a film screening and field trips) for the participants of all courses to allow cross-disciplinary exchange and shared learning experience.
Early bird registration is available until 15 December 2022. The registration closes on 24 January 2023.
Please find more information on the programme, participation fees and other practicalities here.

The ENCLAVE project: Final Conference & Transnational seminar
2023-01-12 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | Odisee Hogeschool, Warmoesberg 43 (Hermesgebouw 3, room 6116, 6th floor), Brussels, 1000, Belgium
The Final Conference and Transnational Seminar conclude the two years mandate of this European scale action research project. This event will bring together professionals from the justice, care and health sectors, policymakers, researchers and volunteers, to disseminate the ENCLAVE project outputs and to foster dialogue towards the need for a common framework of implementation of the forensic interview procedures with children victims and witnesses of sexual violence.
The Final Conference initiates with a welcoming speech by the hosting institution (KUL) and follows with the contributions from European Commissioner Katarzyna Janicka-Pawlowska on The Victims’ Rights Directive and children’s rights, and from Levent Altan, Executive Director at Victim Support Europe, on Designing an interconnected system of Support and Justice. The ENCLAVE project is then introduced and the main findings and outputs presented.
In the afternoon, the Transnational Seminar hosts three thematic sessions focused on the specialized response to child sexual victimization, delivered by guest speakers experts in the fields of justice and of child victim support. To conclude the day, a round table will foster discussion amongst guest speakers, project partners, and assistants, on the challenges of daily practice in criminal justice procedures with child victims and witnesses of sexual violence, and challenges regarding the interprofessional collaboration of relevant stakeholders of the child victims’ journey.

Restorative Justice and Gender-Based Violence A Debate on the Challenges and Opportunities
2022-12-07 17:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
In recent years, much more attention has been given to the use of restorative justice in cases of gender-based violence. Research and practice advanced hand-in-hand to identify the challenges, as well as the opportunities, on the use of restorative justice in cases of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, physical punishment, and honour-based violence, among others.
This event is the opportunity to engage in a conversation with key experts dedicated to further advance this field of application for restorative justice, actively engaged in the EFRJ Working Group on Gender-Based Violence.
This event (free of charge, but registration needed) is open to anyone interested in the topic, including those with lived-experience (i.e. survivors who are curious about or engaged in a restorative justice meeting). In particular, the Working Group on Gender-Based Violence wishes to engage into a conversation with anyone resisting or fearing the use of restorative justice in cases of gender-based violence (e.g. women’s organisations, victims’ associations).

Kick-off the 2024 European Elections strategy
2022-11-30 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
In May 2024, the European Parliament will be directly elected for the tenth time. After the Conference on the Future of Europe, it is the next big test for supranational democracy. The European Union has a real power to change lives for the better, to improve the situation of all victims across the Member States and beyond. How can the European Union make a difference?

Enforce existing European laws in Member States.
Develop sufficient and coherent EU funding to support the implementation of rights and services.
Support partnerships and support coordination across policies, European bodies, between States, NGOs, practitioners and victims’ themselves.
Deepen and broaden knowledge through data collection and research.
Directly support capacity building of individuals, organisations, and State authorities to better deliver high quality services and rights in a victim-sensitive manner.

Join us for this info event focusing on the launch of European elections 2024 strategy! You will be the first to hear about the new strategy of the European Parliament, discuss how you could influence the democratic debate and will be able to exchange your plans for the elections with the network!
The event will take place on 30 November 2022, from 12 to 1 pm CET. Please note that the timing has slightly changed!
Please register for the event following this link.
Hope to see you online on 30th November!

Combatting Knife Crime: Making Communities Safer & Working in Partnership to Tackle Serious Youth Violence
2022-11-24 10:30 - 14:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
This symposium will look at how practitioners from across the police service, education, health and third sector can improve collaboration and develop early intervention strategies to tackle knife crime. It will provide delegates with a deeper understanding of the implications of government policies for all stakeholders and will share best practice in confronting knife crime.
Programme

Explore how to develop a multi-agency approach to tackling knife crime
Consider how to better identify and support children and young people at risk of committing a knife-related crime
Understand the implication of the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act 2022 for local authorities, police and other stakeholders addressing knife crime
Consider the impact that an increase in police stop and search powers will have on relationships between the public and police
Discuss the role of drugs and county lines in exacerbating the issue of knife crime and how stakeholders should respond
Examine whether the government’s strategy addresses the root causes of knife crime and develop an understanding of what a long-term strategy may look like
Working with community groups and other local and regional stakeholders to prevent knife crime
Address current gaps in policy including legislation around knife sales

Terrorism and Trauma: Beyond Survival
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Online
Amy O’Neill will be in conversation with Jelena Watkins, Co-director of the Centre for Collective Trauma.
Amy is a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing and a mental health professional. Jelena is a psychotherapist specialising in disaster mental health and a 9/11 bereaved family member.
This is the latest in our series of ‘In Conversation’ webinars in which guest speakers reflect on experiences of loss, trauma, resilience and longer term survival. These are powerful and inspirational stories offering attendees an opportunity to listen, reflect and – if they wish – to ask questions of those in conversation.
Both speakers will draw on their professional and personal experience of dealing with terrorism-related trauma during their conversation. Themes will include coping after collective trauma, the value of peer support, finding resilience over the longer term and implications for professional helpers.

Fundamental Rights Platform annual meeting 2022
2022-11-10 13:30 - 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
The theme of this year’s meeting is: How can civil society help strengthen the rule of law in the European Union? And how can the rule of law help strengthen civil society?
Respect for the rule of law is one of the founding values of the European Union (EU). Acknowledging the risk of erosion of this value, the European Commission established the European Rule of Law Mechanism, as a preventive tool which aims to promote the rule of law and prevent challenges from emerging or it deteriorating. The European Commission’s annual report on the rule of law is a core component of this Mechanism. The report acknowledges the important role that civil society organisations play for supporting institutional systems of checks and balances pertaining to the rule of law.
FRA’s 2022 annual update on civic space in the EU provides an overview of how civil society is contributing to this in many ways. It emphasizes the role that civil society plays in promoting a strong rule of law culture in the EU.
Drawing on these reports, this year’s annual meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform will focus on how civil society can best contribute to strengthening the rule of law in their countries, and on what can be done to support civil society organisations in this endeavour.

Luncheon-debate with Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice
2022-10-25 12:30 - 14:30 (Europe/Brussels) | NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon Hotel, Rue Bodenbroek 2, Brussels, Belgium
Next Tuesday 25th October between 12:30 and 14:30, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organizing a luncheon-debate with the participation of Didier Reynders, European Commissioner of Justice, who will talk about “Evolving consumer rights in the digital transition”.
The event will take place at NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon Hotel (Rue Bodenbroek 2, 1000 Brussels).

Building on the Domestic Abuse Act to Better Protect and Support Victims and Survivors
2022-10-20 10:30 - 14:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
A year on from the passing of the 2021 Act, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, recognised that “there’s far more to be done to support victims, to tackle the causes of domestic abuse and hold perpetrators to account”, noting that “there needs to be far more focus on prevention, early intervention and a more co-ordinated community response.” The Commissioner proposes that to better support victims of domestic abuse, the Victims Bill, presented to Parliament in May 2022, “provides the perfect opportunity to ensure that community-based services get the recognition and funding they need to plug some of the gaps which were left unfilled in the Domestic Abuse Act”, including in relation to “advocacy, safety planning, therapeutic support and counselling, support for children, and work with perpetrators to change their behaviour.” The Commissioner also calls on the government to provide £18.7m over three years to ensure that victims without recourse to public funds can access support, accommodation and subsistence.
This symposium will look at the legacy of the pandemic on the incidence, nature and victims of domestic abuse, and discuss the impact of the Domestic Abuse Act and how the Act can best be implemented by key stakeholders.
Programme

Plan and implement effective intervention strategies to identify and support victims early
Evaluate the extent to which the passing of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 has adequately addressed the complex and urgent needs of domestic abuse survivors
Examine how the Victims Bill can be shaped to ensure better support for victims of domestic abuse
Explore the impact of the pandemic on levels of domestic abuse
Address gaps in specialist training for police forces on how to respond to domestic violence cases
Discuss the changing profile of abusers and what practical and policy changes should be considered
Understand what the Domestic Abuse Act means for local authorities and how they can effectively meet their statutory duty to deliver a strategy
Examine ways to address the fundamental drivers of domestic violence
Analyse the inequalities which are present in current and proposed efforts to address domestic abuse, particularly with regard to migrant women, economically vulnerable women, and women from minority, marginalised or disadvantaged communities or backgrounds, or those with protected characteristics
Discuss collaborative and partnership opportunities for various agencies and departments, including the role of pharmacies
Scrutinise the current legal remedies which are in place to protect the abused and punish the abuser and their efficacy in practice
Review the ways in which domestic abuse has changed in recent years, considering the effect of the internet, the increasing recognition of economic abuse, and the impact of domestic violence upon children
Develop effective strategies for protecting and supporting survivors of domestic abuse, at national, regional and local levels

CEP General Assembly followed by a Conference on Human Rights and Ethics in Probation
2022-10-19 00:00 - 2022-10-20 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | Dubrovik, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
CEP in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Justice kindly invites all probation professionals and practitioners to participate in the autumn conference in Dubrovnik that will cover the topics that have recently been on the agenda of probation organizations across Europe. Probation organisations have been in a different phase of development and the specifics that probation officers must deal with vary from country to country. The core business – providing guidance, assistance, support and motivation to the client, protecting society and victims from any harm – remains the same. Variety of other specifics the probation officers deal with the clients on a daily basis differs. Europe is large and issues addressed in South Europe do not necessarily have to be the same as the ones in North, Central and Eastern Europe at certain moment.
Key questions we would like to raise at the conference are:

Human rights, ethics and its reflection in probation work
Gender stereotypes in probation: fair chances and equal opportunities
Psychological support in probation
Diversity management: developing multicultural competencies in probation

FYDO Final Project Conference
2022-10-18 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
Victim Support Europe and partners are proud to announce the final FYDO conference, that will take place on 18 October 2022, in Brussels.
Since the beginning of 2021, Victim Support Europe (BE), Dog4Life (IT), Viaduq67 (FR), Handi’Chiens (FR), Canisha (BE), Hachiko (BE) and the University College Cork (IE), have led a unique project funded by the European Justice Programme, which aims to train and place justice assistance dogs to work with vulnerable victims of crime on their journey to justice: Facility Dogs in Europe (FYDO).
The FYDO project has a special significance in the context of the current revision of the EU’s Victims’ Rights Directive. By promoting the innovative use of facility dogs, the FYDO project encourages the use of justice assistance dogs across all EU Member States, so that every victim feels supported and empowered to participate in the justice process, to take up their legal rights, recover from victimisation and to regain their self-respect.
To date, six dogs have been placed to support victims in various settings (two in Belgium, three in Italy and one in France) and 15 handlers have been trained to work with them. Dogs and their humans work with victims of crime across the criminal justice and support settings. The project has developed a unique European facility dog training programme that ensures highly trained dogs can support vulnerable victims in their participation to criminal proceedings, as well as facilitate their recovery from the trauma of crime.
The project is just a first step towards partners’ long-term vision to ensure that all victims that need canine support can benefit from it. We also want to ensure FYDO dogs have the right to access any location where their support is needed, including courts, prosecutors’ offices or other premises.
After almost two years of implementation, at the final conference, partners will showcase FYDO’s objectives and achievements – we will reflect on successes and challenges with the participation of VSE, partners – and our FYDO dogs and their handlers.
If you would like to hear about the successes of the previous two years, hear testimonials from victims, members of the judiciary, our partners and supporters, please save the date – 18 October 2022, and plan to join us.
Further conference details will be announced soon, register now by clicking here.
We look forward to seeing you in Brussels this October!

Self-Awareness as key for intercultural and interreligious understanding
2022-10-13 17:00 - 18:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
Title: “Self-Awareness as key for intercultural and interreligious understanding”.
Self-awareness is the basis for an authentic inter-religious and inter-faith dialogue in the multi-faceted and complex context of today’s crises, conflicts, opportunities, ways & means.

ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84957722135?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 849 5772 2135Passcode: [REDACTED]

The Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World, Highlighting the Contributions of Older Women
2022-10-03 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | New York & online
The New York commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2022 will highlight “The Resilience and Contributions of Older Women” in successfully navigating today’s myriad of global challenges.
The past three years have brought profound upheaval in the worlds’ health, socioeconomic, and environmental sectors, with pandemic and climate related impacts experienced globally. These effects continue to be deeply significant, particularly for many older women who bear the burden of cumulative disadvantage. Recognition of the vital contributions of older women and inclusion of their voices, perspectives and needs is critical to creating policies responsive to local, national, and global challenges and catastrophes.
UNIDOP 2022 is a call to action and opportunity, with globally representative older women, parliamentarians, and UN representatives offering multi-stakeholder dialogue on the resilience of living through and responding to climate disaster, conflict, or pandemic, experiencing and managing the physical and emotional disruption to losses of family, income, and social connectedness. Panels will highlight relevant actions that include efforts toward inclusion of older persons, protection of their human rights, and contributions to sustainable development. The necessity of ongoing data collection inclusive of older persons and disaggregated by gender and age will be incorporated throughout.
Objectives:
➢ To highlight the resilience of older women in the face of environmental, social, economic and lifelong inequalities
➢ To raise awareness of the importance of improved world-wide data collection, disaggregated by age and gender
➢ To call on member states, UN entities, UN Women, and civil society to include older women in the center of all policies, ensuring gender equality as described in the Secretary-General’s report, Our Common Agenda

You can follow the event live on the UN Web TV.

Local level victim support services – a pillar of a holistic approach to urban security
2022-09-29 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
The right to access justice and to be protected against repeated victimisation may remain unattainable in practice, if victims of crime do not to receive professional advice and support. The criminal justice system may also seem daunting and confusing to those who are not familiar with it. In the opposite case-scenario, adequate services for victims can enhance citizens’ feeling of safety and increase their trust in urban authorities and social institutions.
With this in mind, the Municipality of Piraeus established a Victim Support Unit. Founded within the framework of the BSFS project (2019-2023; co-financed by the European Union’s Urban Innovative Actions), the Unit supports victims of any type of crime and provides psychosocial and legal services, as well as referrals to relevant institutional and social bodies. The session will explore the modalities of building one-stop-shop support services, and other relevant victim support practices and share the lessons learned of making such initiatives functional and sustainable.
In this session, the following topics will be discussed:

How to create a one-stop-shop system to support victims of crime and their affected relatives?
How does the Victim Support Unit in the case of the City of Piraeus, provide one-stop-shop support for victims?
How to involve and train an interdisciplinary team, including lawyers, psychologists, social workers, and volunteers to provide support to victims, in one place?
What other victim support practices are elaborated and implemented at the local level in different member states?
How to effectively communicate externally about such victim support services – How to inform the citizens?
What are other cities’ examples and recommendations with regards to the establishments and operationalisation of such victim support services?

#PetPower Night: celebrating the Human Animal Bond
2022-09-27 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Résidence Palace, Brussels, Belgium
Victim Support Europe received the opportunity to present the Facility Dogs Europe project at the upcoming Pet Power event, hosted by Pet alliance Europe. Yes, this is a pet-friendly networking event on 27 September – so mark your calendar!
Join us from 6:30-8:30PM and hear the keynote speaker from Dogs for Good -Chief Executive, Peter Gorbing on the importance of harmonised guidelines for training all kinds of assistance, therapy or emotional support animals and how they’re working with other associations to develop these.
They will also have some associations training guide dogs for the blind and pet therapy hospital volunteers there to share info on their vital work. It is an opportunity to meet and network with key players in the pet welfare sector.

Infovictims III – Final Seminar
2022-09-19 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) | Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
APAV and the Infovictims Partnership will promote the seminar “Innovate to humanise the justice system for victims”.
The beautiful Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in the very heart of Lisbon, was the venue elected to hold our event on September 19th 2022.
This event will gather key actors to success of the Infovictims Informative Model, celebrating the third edition of this project recognised as a best practice in information to victims of crime in Europe.
Confirm your presence by registering here.
For more information, please visit apav.pt/Infovictims
Hope to see you in Lisbon! Registration is free of charge and no travel and accommodation are foreseen.
Save your seat!

VOICES 21st Annual Remembrance Symposium
2022-09-09 00:00 - 2022-09-10 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) | New York & online
VOICES is proud to host its 21st Annual Remembrance Symposium, Pathways to Resilience on Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10 at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in New York City.
This year’s program is presented in partnership with the Leadership in Counter Terrorism Alumni Association (LinCT-AA) and the International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence (INVICTM). The two-day event brings together distinguished professionals working in national security, law enforcement, victims’ services, mental health, compensation, and investigations in the aftermath of 9/11, as well as other international acts of mass violence.
Please note: For attendance at the Symposium, VOICES will comply with all current COVID-19 mask mandates and health protocols as per the New York Marriott Downtown and New York City / CDC guidelines.
The September 9 program is available via live stream only, and the September 10 program is available in-person and via live stream. The programs are free and registration is required.
