The rights of victims of crime to access justice and to be protected against repeat victimisation may remain illusory in practice if the victim fails to receive professional advice and support. This research by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) examines support service provision for such victims across the 28 EU Member States, in line with the 2012 EU Victims’ Directive. It focuses not on abstract fundamental rights standards but on the final practical results.
FRA research identified promising practices that Member States looking to improve their victim support structures might turn to for inspiration. It also found several areas where Member States currently fall short of meeting the directive’s requirements. They will need to take further legislative and policy steps to ensure they comply with the directive by the implementation deadline of 16 November 2015.