Hungarian Victim Support-
introduction & developments
dr. Gábor VeiszHead of Victim Support Unit
Office of Public Administration and Justice
Fehér Gyűrű Közhasznú Egyesületconference
Budapest, 4 September 2013
Legal framework 1.
• Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA of 15 March 2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings
• Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims
• Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA
• Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA
Legal framework 2.• Act CXXXV of 2005 on Crime Victim Support and State
Compensation (Victim Support Act 2005)• Act XXXI of 1997 on the Protection of Children and
Guardianship Administration• Decree No. 354/2012 (13 Dec.) of the Government on the
Identification of THB Victims• Decree No. 17/2007 (13 March) of the Min. of Justice and
Policing on the V/S Duties of the Police and the Border Guard• Decree No. 32/2011 (18 Nov.) of the Min. for P/A&J on the
Child Hearing Rooms of the Police & Order No. 1/2013. (8 Jan.) of the Police HQ on the Child Hearing Rooms
• Order No. 2/2013 (31 Jan.) of the Police HQ on the V/S Duties of the Police
Ministry of Public Administr. and Justice
regional Government Offices - HR, functional conditions
Justice Service
Victim Support Unit
Legal Aid Unit
Probation Unit
Office of Public Administr. and Justice (KIH) – professional
management
Victim Support
Unit
Legal Aid Unit
Probation Unit
Institutional framework forVictim Support
Task designlocal V/S units
• offering help– administrative (instant
monetary aid, certificates)– assistance (assertion of
interests, psychologist)• assisting authority duties for
compensation• cash payments• awareness raising,
dissemination of information• implementation of projects
KIH
• office work• non-cash payments• methodology• trainings• integrated IT system• statistics• internal and foreign relations
The support system
forms of help
information support
services
instant monetary
aid
assertion of interests (incl. psychologist &
legal aid)
safehouse (shelter)
state compensation
lump-sumregular
monthly instalments
Assistance 1.Information
• low-entry level assistance– for anyone– without formalities
• presonalized information on:– rights and duties in the criminal procedure– victim support and other available services– other help organisations– how to avoid repeated and re-victimisation
• available 24/7 on free of charge Victim Line (06 80 225 225)
Assistance 2.
Assertion of interests
• helping victims to exercise basic rights• helping victims to access health care, health insurance and
social services• legal aid, psychologist
• no deadlines• no formalities• must certify victimhood (until 2015)
Assistance 3.Instant monetary aid
• emergency aid to cover housing, clothing, nutrition, travelling, medical and piety costs related to crime
• based on momentary neediness: if such costs cannot be paid by the victim as a consequence of the crime
• a certificate issued by the criminal authority is needed• 5 day deadline (from the date of perpetration)• application form• max. amount 91.633 Ft (2013) ~ 300 € or 260 £• NOT compensation
Assistance 4.State compensation• eligibility criteria:– victims of certain violent and intentional crimes, if their
physical integrity or health has been seriously damaged as a direct consequence of the act
– certain relatives who were living with the victim– whom such a victim is or was obliged to maintain– who has arranged for the funeral of such a victim
• based on neediness (610 €/capita), 3 months’ deadline• application form, mandatory attachments, certificate• max. amount ~4.580 € or 3.880 £ (2013) or regular
instalments
Assistance 5.
• psychologist– not yet available nationwide
(in 14 counties + the Capital)– personal or group
crisis intervention– assisting counselling
• duties within the signalling system– if experiencing children’s vulnerability or– domestic violence
Assistance +1
… that still needs further developement
• emotional help• effective practical help (assertion of interests)• individual assessment, case management• identification of THB victims
• supervision for co-workers• renewing training system• effective use of volunteers
Further duties laid byVictim Support Act 2005
• asserting prevail of victims’ rights– information leaflets– annual report
• co-operation and contact with co-partners(victim protection network of the police, investigating authority, prosecutors, judges, Immigration Office, consular services, municipal authorities, health institutions, social institutions, auxiliary police, NGOs, churches)
Co-operation with NGOs
• important role in increasing efficiency• framework agreements, single initiatives or projects• different in regions, adjusting to local specificities,
opportunities, activity– White Ring– auxiliary police– charities (e.g. Red Cross, Maltese Charity Service)– specialised organisations (e.g. Street Caregivers, IOM)
Programmes byvictim support services 1.
• general activities – awareness raising (in senior clubs, schools)
• non-competition based programmes– THB coordination mechanism– Sziget Festival– Foresee research Group’s project on peacemaking circles– maintaining TEtt programme
Programmes byvictim support services 2.
• competition based programmes– interdisciplinary co-operation– programmes focusing on a special group of victims (e.g.
homestead protection programme, peer helper programme for elderly people, „village-walker”, „conversing policemen”, programme for dorm students)
– presence in the media, „road show”, trainings
Programmes byvictim support services 3.
Békés county project• consortium of 3, 2 years, in Békés county• prevention (providing potential victims with information and
having them prepared)– special classes for appr. 7.000 pupils & parents, teachers– 30 hrs peer helper training for 60 high school students and
95 parents• co-operation protocol• social worker undergraduates as volunteers
Programmes byvictim support services 4.
Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county project• consortium of 3, 2 years, in SzSzB county• prevention (providing potential victims with information and
having them prepared)– self-knowledge training for 14-18 y old high school studs– presentations in senior clubs and in appr. 200 towns/vill.s
• co-operation protocol, interdisciplinary training for professionals
• training for further victim-related professionals (in health care, schools etc.) in the 8 largest towns of the county
• taking part in international projects– „Making Justice Systems More Restorative”– „Form a Chain, Break the Circle” – fighting domestic
violence (ISEC)– „Form a Chain to Safeguard Children” – helping child
victims of domestic violence (ISEC)• participating in international conferences• participating in international organisations
Learning foreigngood practices
Thank you for your attention!
dr. Gábor Veisz Head of Victim Support Unit
Office of Public Administration and [email protected]
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