Rights, support and protection of victims of crime

It affects victims of crime across the EU, especially children, people with disabilities, irregular migrants, detainees, and victims of violence, trafficking, hate crime, terrorism, organised crime, or exploitation.

• Requires free confidential victim helplines using 116 006 and online access to information.
• Allows online crime reporting and limits migration-data sharing when irregular migrants report crimes.
• Expands individual needs assessments, specialist support, child-focused services, and physical protection measures.
• Requires compensation decisions in criminal proceedings and state upfront payment of adjudicated offender compensation.

Takes effect

The Directive enters into force on the twentieth day following publication in the Official Journal.

Transitional law

Member States must transpose it within two years, but electronic communication rules under Article 26b are due within four years.

• Directive 2012/29/EU
  • art. 3a: inserts new Article 3a on victims’ helplines
  • art. 5a: inserts new Article 5a on reporting of crime
  • art. 8: replaces paragraph 2 and adds paragraph 6
  • art. 9: amends paragraphs 1 and 3 and adds paragraph 4
  • art. 9a: inserts new Article 9a on targeted and integrated support services for children
  • art. 10a: inserts new Article 10a on right to assistance at court
  • art. 10b: inserts new Article 10b on review of court-proceeding decisions
  • art. 16: replaces paragraphs 1 and 2 on offender compensation
  • art. 17: replaces paragraph 1(b) and adds paragraph 4
  • art. 21: adds paragraph 3 on withholding victim contact-identifying personal data
  • art. 22: replaces title and multiple paragraphs; inserts paragraphs 1a and 3a
  • art. 23: replaces paragraph 2(d) and adds paragraph 4
  • art. 24: adds paragraph 3 on child victims and parental responsibility conflicts
  • art. 26a: inserts new Article 26a on protocols through national coordination and cooperation
  • art. 26b: inserts new Article 26b on electronic means of communication
  • art. 26c: inserts new Article 26c on rights of victims with disabilities
  • art. 26d: inserts new Article 26d on remedies
  • art. 27a: inserts new Article 27a on violence against women and domestic violence obligations
  • art. 28: replaces Article 28 on provision of data and statistics
  • art. 29: replaces Article 29 on Commission reporting and review