Civil society organizations as key actors in standardizing support systems for victims and witnesses of criminal offences

Project facts

Project promoter:
Women’s Room – Center for Sexual Rights(HR)
Project Number:
HR-ACTIVECITIZENS-0019
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€138,985
Donor Project Partners:
The Women’s Shelter(IS)
Other Project Partners
Croatian Law Centre(HR)
Victim and Witness Support Service Croatia(HR)
Programme:

Description

The treatment of victims of crime (COV), their rights and position in criminal proceedings is highly non-standard. The problem is the lack of research and data on which CSOs could conduct an advocacy process to improve the system. A standardized and effective support system makes it easier for victims to go through criminal proceedings, exercise their rights, but also influences the decision to report a crime. The project will strengthen the advocacy capacity of CSOs through education on public policy development and advocacy processes as key activities. In order to adequately advocate for concrete change, CSOs need accurate and relevant information on the state of the system, treatment of victims, opportunities to exercise their rights and, in general, treatment of victims within the justice system. A series of comprehensive analyses will be carried out, which will serve to develop concrete recommendations for improving the system, proposals for changes in legislation and will indicate the space for improving the position and treatment of COV (both partners from Croatia involved). The donor project partner will contribute to the analysis of best practices at the EU level (Iceland and two other EU states) for advocating of standardized support and compensatory measures for victims of crime. In order to promote the obtained data, strengthen the visibility and role of CSOs and disseminate information, a public campaign will be conducted (country partners involved). Target groups are CSOs, COV (primarily women including Roma and LGBTIQ) service providers (analysis-based advocacy capacity); Relevant public bodies and institutions (influence on the standardization of the work and treatment of COV, making changes and improving the rights and position of COV); academic community (cooperation and work on recommendations); media (dissemination of information and sensitization of the public). The final beneficiaries are all citizens, i.e. victims and witnesses.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.