Chapter 2, Article 8 · Directive 2012/29/EU

Contents

Article 8Right to access victim support services#

1.Member States shall ensure that victims, in accordance with their needs, have access to confidential victim support services, free of charge, acting in the interests of the victims before, during and for an appropriate time after criminal proceedings. Family members shall have access to victim support services in accordance with their needs and the degree of harm suffered as a result of the criminal offence committed against the victim.

2.Member States shall ensure that victims are contacted without undue delay by the relevant general or specialist support services if the individual assessment referred to in Article 22 identifies a need for support and provided that the victim, having been informed of the support services that can be provided, consents to being contacted by support services or if the victim requests support.

3.Member States shall take measures to establish free-of-charge and confidential specialist support services in addition to, or as an integrated part of, general victim support services, or to enable victim support organisations to call on existing specialised entities providing such specialist support. Victims shall have access to such services in accordance with their specific needs and family members shall have access in accordance with their specific needs and the degree of harm suffered as a result of the criminal offence committed against the victim. Where specialist support services are not provided as an integrated part of general victim support services, general and specialist support services shall be coordinated.

4.Victim support services and any specialist support services may be set up as public or non-governmental organisations and may be organised on a professional or voluntary basis.

5.Member States shall ensure that access to any victim support services is not dependent on a victim making a formal complaint with regard to a criminal offence to a competent authority.

6.Member States shall aim to ensure that specialist support services remain fully operational for victims in times of crisis, such as health crises, humanitarian situations or other states of emergency.

7.Victim support services shall be available and easy to access including online or through other suitable means, such as information and communication technologies. Member States shall ensure that the geographical distribution and capacity of the victim support services referred to in this Article and in Article 9a are sufficient, taking into account the geography and demographic composition of the Member State concerned.

Directive 2012/29/EU

Article 8Right to access victim support services#

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Article 8Right to access victim support services#

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