Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV)

The Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) is a private institution of social solidarity, a collective person of public benefit, whose statutory objective is to promote and contribute to information, protection and support for citizens who are victims of criminal offenses.

In short, it is a non-profit and voluntary organization that supports, in an individualized, qualified and humanized manner, victims of crimes, through the provision of free and confidential services.

Founded on June 25, 1990, it is a nationwide institution, with its headquarters in Lisbon.

To achieve its objective, APAV proposes, namely:

»Promote protection and support for victims of criminal offenses, in particular those most in need, namely through information, personalized assistance and referral, moral, social, legal, psychological and economic support;

»Collaborate with the competent entities of the administration of justice, police, social security, health, as well as local authorities, autonomous regions and other public or private entities;

»Encourage and promote social solidarity, namely through the formation and management of networks of volunteer cooperators and social patronage, as well as victim-offender mediation and other restorative justice practices;

»Encourage and sponsor research and studies on the victim’s problems, for the most adequate satisfaction of their interests;

»Promote and participate in programs, projects and information and public awareness campaigns;

»Contribute to the adoption of legislative, regulatory and administrative measures, which facilitate defense, protection and support to the victim of criminal offenses, with a view to preventing the risks of victimization and mitigating its effects;

»Establish contacts with international organizations and collaborate with entities that in other countries pursue similar purposes.