Framework
The protection and the rights of victims of crime have been concerning issues in recent years in the European Union. The fact that there is a clear, defined and uniform status of the victim in all Member States launched this issue into the debate and encouraged projects implemented in all Member States of the EU to list laws and practices underway in order to improve the system and to provide victims of rights that would allow them to deal with a new reality in a common area of "Security, Freedom and Justice" in which we live today.

This DIJUS seminar intends, through theoretical reflection and practical experience of the professionals, to discuss the (in)existence of a victim status, weigh the rights granted to certain victims of crimes and the most balanced way to extend them to all others.

We intend to clarify and reflect together on the rights of victims of crimes acquired and implemented to date, pointing out specificities and presenting gaps in law and practices. We want to consider Directive 2012/29/E of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 (being discussed in Portugal and in all Member States of the European Union), addressing the plurality of themes that they impose, questioning current practices and promoting joint discussion of new and improved measures to be implemented in the area of promoting the rights and status of victims in Portugal, within the European context. We also want to reflect on the Istanbul Convention and the recent transposition into the Portuguese legal system, creating three new crimes affecting mostly women.

Each of the parties will make an initial 20 minutes intervention, followed by a period of debate among these, the commentator and the public.

Interventions

Speakers: João Lázaro (President  of APAV) [TBC] and Carlos Anjos (Director of the Commission for Protection of Crime Victims)
Comments – Maria João Guia (CES /DJC XXI)
Moderator – João Pedroso (CES/DJC XXI/FEUC)