Finland Conference on Victims of Crime

Dr Mark Montebello O.P. and Mr Ivan Cauchi, respectively Director and Co-ordinator of Mid-Dlam g]ad-Dawl (Daritama) are to participate at the 18th Conference of Victim Support Europe (VSE; formerly the European Forum for Victim Services) in Gustavelund (Tuusula, Finland). The conference will be held between the 26th and the 30th of this month.

The VSE is association of organisations that offer services to victims of crime and court witnesses. It incorporates organisations fromAustria,Belgium, theCzech Republic,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Hungary,Ireland,Luxembourg, theNetherlands,Portugal,Slovakia,Sweden,Switzerland, and theUnited Kingdom. VSE is in consultative status with the COUNCIL OF EUROPE and the UN.

The association exists to:

Promote the development of effective services for victims of crime throughoutEurope
Promote fair and equal compensation for victims of crime throughoutEurope, regardless of the nationality of the victim concerned
Promote the rights of victims of crime inEuropein their involvement in the criminal justice system and with other agencies
Exchange experience and information between member organisations to share best practices and knowledge.
The conference shall deal with such themes as victims services, workers’ welfare, hate crimes, and cross boarder victims. It shall meet under the presidency of Chairperson Dame Helen Reeves, the Chief Executive of Victims Support (UK).

At present Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl, the organisation working with prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, is in the process of creating in Malta Victim SupportMalta, which will be a support and information centre for victims of crime and court witnesses.