There are 20 days left until the VSE annual conference 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. Among variety of activities we offer you a full two day programme with over a dozen inspiring plenary speakers, 24 workshops with 42 expert presenters covering a range of topics from developing victim support services, supporting vulnerable victims such as victims of terrorism, hate crime and historical abuse through to specialised psychological support. In addition you will have a chance to meet professionals from across Europe and beyond who are working on victims’ issues.
VSE’s Policy Officer An Verelst picked up several workshops she personally would love to see and learn more about issues they cover and the ones she is looking forward to and want to recommend the to people to follow.
Workshop C2 – Protecting and supporting victims of online crime
- Online crime – a victim-oriented approach (Linnea Aberg & Anna Wergens, The Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority Sweden)
- Weisser ring – ways of victims – access to Weisser ring services
WHY? Because online crime is increasing, new ways of support are promising to reach new groups of victims that are difficult to reach.
Workshop C3 – Supporting Vulnerable Victims
- Tools to strengthen service provision for victims of FGM. (Natalie Kontoulis, END FGM)
- Safe Reporting: Strategies to improve protection & justice for undocumented victims of crime – PICUM/MRCI/Amsterdam Police
WHY? I’ve been working together with PICUM and FGM the work they and their members are doing is inspiring and great. I want to learn more on how they are working with their members to ensure the victims they work with can exercise their rights without having to fear repercussions; be sure of being protected; get the right specialised support.
Reaching and supporting specific groups of victims
- Helping victims of sexual abuse come forward – Rape Crisis Network Ireland/One in Four (Ireland)
- Reaching out to and supporting youths – RIKU (Finland)
WHY? Thanks to the T@LK project I have been working on online support. From that project I know about the amazing work RIKU is doing reaching out to youths and young victims of crime.
Working in war-affected regions on the psychological consequences of sexual violence I’ve studied and learnt how not coming forward or not acknowledging to be a victim of a certain crime can have a very strong negative impact on a victim’s wellbeing. I look forward to see how Rape Crisis Network Is helping victims come forward.
Workshop A5
Legislating for hate crimes
- The different legal systems and possible criminalisation of hate (Ana Amorino, APAV)
- Protecting victims of hate crime – a rights based approach. (Margreet de Boer & Alex Sas, Slachtofferhulp Nederlands)
WHY? Hate Crime is a growing problem, it affects victims and their families. In many European countries as well as elsewhere in the world we see that hate crime is rising towards different groups. Changes in the legal framework are often laggin behind to protect all victims of hate crime – therefore I want to hear about the rights of victims of hate crime.
Workshop B2
Psychological First Aid
- Psychological first aid- an evidenced based approch for assisting people post trauma. (Maddi O’Neil & Oonagh Cullen, VS NI)
WHY? I’ve seen this approach used in war-affected areas and believe it is a very valuable approach. Looking forward to what Maddi O’Neil & Oonagh Cullen can share about their valuable experiences.
Check out VSE annual conference web site and register!
