Hungary was the venue for this year's European Forum for Victim Services (EFVS), just before the Hungarian President László Sólyom visited Malta. European member states' governments have recognised the importance of victim support and have endorsed the Council of Europe Recommendation Rec. (2006) 8 of the committee of ministers to member states on assistance to crime victims.
Malta's Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs adopted the recommendation last year at the Council of Europe meeting of the Ministers of Justice.
All over Europe, hundreds of organisations work relentlessly to assist people hit adversely by crime. Over two million people are assisted each year by the European Forum member organisations.
Every year, members of EFVS meet in a different member country to share their experiences of good practice, successes and setbacks, and set the agenda for the future. Victim Support Malta (VSM) is active in the forum and has been a member since 2005.
Key speakers this year included Dame Helen Reeves, a previous chair of the forum and chief executive of Victim Support UK, until 2005, and now chair of the EC experts committee on Victims' Services. She gave an update on the 'Recommendation 2006/8 to member states on assistance to crime victims', which Malta has agreed to implement.
Malta has agreed "to identify and support measures to alleviate the negative effects of crime and to undertake that victims are assisted in all aspects of their rehabilitation, in the community, at home and in the workplace (3.1)... These services should be delivered free of charge, at least in the aftermath of the crime (3.2).
"The police and other criminal justice agencies should identify the needs of victims to ensure that appropriate information, protection and support is made available (4.2).
"In particular, states should facilitate the referral of victims by the police to assistance services so that appropriate services may be offered" (4.3).
After a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Victim Support Malta signed a protocol with Police Commissioner John Rizzo, in April 2006, whereby CID officers operate a referral system for victims of crime.
VSM keep the officers updated with regular presentations, which were all well attended. VSM would now like to expand the referral system to police stations, which will be discussed at future meetings with the Ministry, the police, and other relevant entities.
Caroline Morgan, a lawyer working with the EC Criminal Justice Unit within the Justice, Freedom and Security Directorate, spoke about the funding programme within the directorate. She also gave members useful information and talked about the pitfalls to avoid.
Professor Jan van Dijk from the International Victimology Institute at Tilburg University (INTERVICT), the Netherlands, spoke on 'International Developments in Victim Services' and Stephen Jacobi OBE from Just Umbrella UK, spoke on 'Assisting Victims Abroad'.
Later at 'The Challenges of Helping Cross Border Victims' workshop, a presentation on the ongoing EU funded 'Feasibility Project into Offering Support Services for Tourists and Business Travellers who fall Victim to Crime' was given by Nicola Turner (Victim Support UK). The UK is lead partner with France and Malta.
Fr Mark Montebello spoke about his published research Making Malta a Safer Place for International Visitors, which forms part of the project. The booklet, which was distributed at the conference, was very well received.
Other workshops included: 'Diversity among volunteers' - outcome of the ARRVOC project, 'Working with Children as victims and witnesses of crime - outcomes of the MUSAS II project', 'Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence: Learning from the Daphne II Project', 'Resourcing your Organisation: Exchange of Good Practice in Fund Raising', 'Empowering the Victim' and 'Restorative Justice in Practice - Protecting Victim Rights'.
A factor that was common to all countries was that the connotations connected with the word "victim" still put off some people from seeking help. One of the workshops concentrated on the use of language, how people react to it and how we can overcome such hurdles.
Ensuring that clients are getting a good service is the main objective of Victim Support in Europe. Therefore all the plenary sessions and workshops were geared towards this end.
This of course included future plans to develop and strengthen victim services further and improve the quality of service.
Ms Hansen is the director of Victim Support Malta. More information can be obtained by logging on to www.victimsupportmalta.org or tel: 2122-8333.