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 Justiceveisz.gabor@kih.gov.hu