The Platform ensures a more horizontal approach to victims’ rights. It brings together for the first time all EU level actors relevant for victims’ rights. It includes key actors such as the European Network on victims’ rights, the EU Network of national contact points for compensation, the EU Counter–Terrorism Coordinator, Eurojust, the Fundamental Rights Agency and civil society.
Composition of the Victims’ Rights Platform
Currently, the Victims’ Rights Platform is composed of 34 members that include representatives of EU level networks, agencies, bodies and civil society organisations relevant for the implementation of the EU Strategy on victims’ rights.
The EU Victims’ Rights Platform was inaugurated on 22 September 2020, at a High-level conference on victims’ rights co-organised by the European Commission and the German Presidency.
In order to give a possibility to additional representatives of relevant civil society organisations interested in the implementation of the EU Strategy on victims’ rights to join the EU Victims’ Rights Platform, on 15 December 2020, the Commission launched a Call for expression of interest to join the Platform. The Call lasted until 12 February 2021. On 17 March 2021, the Commission informed the applicants about the results of the Call and welcomed additional members of the Platform.
Meetings of the Victims’ Rights Platform
The Members of the Victims’ Rights Platform meet at least once per year at a Plenary Meeting of the Platform. This meeting regroups all members of the Platform and deals with more horizontal issues relevant for victims’ rights.
In 2021, the Plenary Meeting of the Victims’ Rights Platform took place on 23 February. In addition, the Commission is regularly organising ad hoc meetings of the Victims’ Rights Platform dedicated to specific topics under the EU Strategy on victims’ rights. The topics include inter alia: victims of terrorism, digitalisation of justice, access to justice for vulnerable adults as victims of crime, access to justice to irregular migrants as victims of crime, violence against women, children as victims of crime, compensation and other topics relevant for the implementation of the Strategy. The ad hoc meetings of the Victims’ Rights Platform regroup those members of the Platform whose area of expertise is particularly relevant for the topic of the meeting.