Project V-Start focuses on the right implementation of the EC Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. Main goal is to strengthen victims’ awareness of support services, making it easier for them to access legal remedies and protect their fundamental rights.
Also, this project aims at upgrading the system of support services for victims of hate crimes, enhancing knowledge and skills of professionals, promoting cooperation and exchange of knowledge amongst them and linking up support services, CSOs and legal practitioners.
This project targets groups of victims of hate crimes and organizations advocating for their rights, especially migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, Roma people and LGBTIQ persons. Special emphasis is placed on refugees and asylum seekers who are at the moment among the most vulnerable victims of hate crimes across Europe.
The main activities and outputs of the project include a study in each country to map and outline the characteristics of national systems of victim support services and to identify ways of improving assistance and support for victims of hate crimes. It also includes networking between CSOs dealing with discrimination and hate crimes and offering victims support and competent bodies and other relevant stakeholders, in order to improve their knowledge base and victims support activities. For CSOs, public services, legal practitioners and police officers trainings will be conducted and four manuals will be compiled in order to enhance knowledge and skills of professionals working with real or potential victims of hate crimes. Also, awareness raising campaigns will be carried out including four practical guides for victims of hate crime in order to spread information about support services and increase awareness about available assistance, support and legal resources.
The duration of project is from August 2017 to July 2019.
Participating countries are Austria, Croatia, Germany and Italy.
Project V-Start is cofunded by the European Union Justice Programme (2014-2020).
The content of this article is the sole responsibility of Human Rights House Zagreb and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
This project is co-financed by the Government of the Republic of Croatia Office for Cooperation with NGOs. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the Human Rights Chamber of Zagreb and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office for the Association of Government of the Republic of Croatia.
This document was created with the financial support of the City of Zagreb. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Human Rights House Zagreb and under no circumstances can it be considered a reflection of the views of the City of Zagreb.
