Victims' rights at trial

The definition of "victim" is dependent upon the national legal system. The role played by victims in criminal proceedings therefore differs across the EU Member States. This in turn leads to differences between the rights guaranteed to victims during criminal proceedings, of which the below table provides an overview.

 

Different rights guaranteed to victims during criminal proceedings by EU Member State
 

Right to be heard - view map

Right to supply evidence - view map

Right for vulnerable victims to be questioned & testify in court in a protected manner Separate waiting area for victims at court Right to be accompanied at trial by support persons Right to access and copy trial records
AT
BE
BG      
CY     (✔) (✔)  
CZ
DE
DK        
EE    
EL    
ES (✔)  
FI (✔)
FR
HR  
HU (✔)  
IE     (✔)  
IT      
LT      
LU    
LV   (✔)
MT (✔) (✔) (✔)   (✔)
NL  
PL    
PT    
RO     (✔)   (✔)  
SE
SI    
SK    
UK      
Total 22 22 24 14 17 23

Note: A tick in brackets shows that a Member State only partly covers the indicated aspect. For example, in Romania, the right for vulnerable victims to be questioned and testify in court in a protected manner is met in cases of victims of human trafficking. The absence of a tick signifies that the aspect is not provided for; for example there is no right for victims to access and copy trial records.

Right to be heard provided for

 
 

Source: FRA, 2014

  Right to be heard provided for
  Right to be heard partially provided for
  Right to be heard not provided for

Right to supply evidence provided for

 
 

Source: FRA, 2014

  Right to supply evidence provided for
  Right to supply evidence partially provided for
  Right to supply evidence not provided for