ZARZALEJOS WELCOMES THE FACT THAT THE NEW VICTIMS’ DIRECTIVE REINFORCES THE INTEGRITY, DIGNITY AND ASSISTANCE OF THOSE AFFECTED BY CRIME IN THE EU

The PP MEP Javier Zarzalejos presented last November 29th in the Joint Committee on Civil Liberties and Women (LIBE-FEMM) the draft report on the revision of Directive 2012/29/EU on the rights of victims of crime, for which he has been rapporteur in LIBE.

The MEP welcomed that “the new Victims Directive strengthens the protection of the integrity, dignity and improved assistance of all those affected by crime in the EU”.

To this end, “we have to ensure that states transpose the directive in a rigorous and rapid manner: Victims must occupy a more protected and more relevant position in the processes that affect them.

“Safeguarding the moral integrity and dignity of victims is the first duty of the rule of law towards them,” he stressed.

In this line, Zarzalejos has introduced in the report a new article establishing the “Right to the protection of the dignity of the victims”, the main novelty he has incorporated to the Commission’s proposal.

“Member States should adopt measures and provide for safeguards in order to avoid any repeated victimization arising from humiliation and attacks on the image of victims, such as the glorification of a specific crime or tribute to convicted offenders,” says the report, in line with other reports already adopted by the European Parliament.

Thus, the Basque MEP explained the need to give this “impetus to the recognition of the uniqueness of the protection needs of victims of terrorism, their specific needs for assistance, their right to dignity and the importance of safeguarding their memory”.

Zarzalejos recalled that this directive brought in 2012 important advances and helped to establish common standards to safeguard their rights and provide support and protection, “but it seems clear that an update was needed, so I am pleased that we are today presented in this proposal.”

“We are thus responding to the changing needs of our society, as well as the changes that have taken place technologically and in the field of justice. This revision is crucial to strengthen existing rights, establish clearer obligations for Member States and establish new rights for victims.”

The right to be informed about the criminal process, such as the release of the perpetrators

Other contributions made by Zarzalejos as rapporteur have been in relation to the right of victims to receive information and to be informed: “Victims should be informed about the status of their cases and about important developments in the criminal process”.

They must also have the opportunity to be notified when the person deprived of liberty, accused or convicted of the criminal offenses affecting them “has been released under judicial supervision, has been transferred to a different location or has obtained prison benefits, a reduction of the sentence or an early termination of criminal responsibility”.

The text advances in the protection of victims of crimes in closed environments, such as residential institutions, orphanages, mental health centers and social and welfare centers, “so that they can report them in an effective manner, something that today is not contemplated”.

As for the right to protection of the integrity of the victims, it has also been strengthened in Zarzalejos’ report, by addressing the victim’s right to avoid contact with the aggressor.