The place of victims in criminal proceedings with a substantial number of victims

ended

General objective : To enhance the relevance of judicial treatment towards victims in the context of extraordinary proceedings including a substantial number of victims - towards effectiveness of the minimum core of victims’ rights (2012 directive) Specific objectives : 1- Improve knowledge of EU legal instruments and policies dealing with victims’ standing in criminal proceedings, mutual recognition of judicial decisions, 2- Strengthen judges, prosecutors, specialized assistants and other relevant professionals command of extraordinary proceedings especially regarding victims’ rights, 3- Facilitate and standardize practices implemented in order to improve victims’ rights in extraordinary criminal proceedings in relation to the number of victims, 4- Raise awareness and disseminate knowledge of good practices among EU judges and prosecutors of the challenges posed in extraordinary criminal proceedings in terms of victims’ rights, 5- Enhance cooperation and improve networks between EU judges, prosecutors and partners involved in the victims’ rights support to optimise the EU criminal justice respect of victims ‘rights. The target groups were chosen according to the main actors involved in investigations, trials and compensation procedures, i.e. judges and prosecutors, but also, depending on the activities, experts, court clerks, lawyers, victim’s support organisations, in order to improve coordination and to bring out good practices through inter-professional and inter-Member State exchanges. The innovative practices implemented in the associated Member States and the will to support other Member States coping with the same issue explains their involvement in this project. The project will ensure the setting up of judicial training activities (3 seminars) combining lectures, study visit of relevant sites in the field, mock trial, workshops, targeting a total number of 175 participants selected by national training institutions from 5 MS (FR, BE, SP, IT, RO) as well as members of the EJTN. It will contribute to raising awareness on the topic and improve the skills of the practitioners, and ultimately ensure the quality of justice towards victims.