Campaign on Human Trafficking: "Used In Europe"
As consumers, each day we are more aware about the origins of the products we use. We have learned that there can be a lot of suffering related to the production of the things we buy, resulting from labour exploitation and the trafficking of people. We may believe that severe labour exploitation only happens in the Global South and not in Europe but, unfortunately, our continent is far from being a safe haven when it comes to the protection of labour rights.
To raise awareness on this issue, La Strada International, together with anti-trafficking NGOs all over Europe (in Portugal, APAV) is developing the campaign Used in Europe, disclosing information about human trafficking and labour exploitation situations that are happening in Europe and resources for people and business to fight this issue. You can check the campaign in the website: www.usedineurope.com
APAV is also currently developing a raising awareness campaign on trafficking, under the Project BRISEIS - to see the campaign click here.
APAV renews website dedicated to tourists victims of crime: "May I Help You?"
APAV just launched a revamped website dedicated to tourists victims of crime: May I Help You?. Developed under the Project May I Help You?, promoted by APAV, this site aims to improve the information and support given to people who are victims of a crime in another Member State of the European Union. The information on the website is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Considering that the crime victim can feel even more vulnerable when visiting a foreign country, in addition to the linguistic and cultural differences, it is difficult for victims to seek support after the crime.
This site provides useful information for tourists, informing them of their rights, providing information on available support systems, safety tips, tourist information about Portugal and information on APAV.
APAV has deepened support for victims tourists over the years, working closely with the embassies and consulates. This new site is another important tool to complement this ongoing work specific support.
Site: May I Help You?
Seminar Right to Quality Services | Lisbon | September 18th 2014
The Seminar "Right to Quality Services" will be held in Lisbon, at the Hotel Fénix Lisboa, on the 18th of September 2014.
Every person reacts differently in the aftermath of a criminal offense. While some victims are able to move on with their lives fairly unaffected, others feel greatly impacted and have difficulty coping with the consequences of the ordeal they've endured.
In addition, many victims of crime are still unaware of their rights even of their right to access to quality services.
Seminar Right to Quality Services will be a valuable opportunity to gather several experts on the arena of victims' rights and support, whom will offer their perspectives on cross cutting issues related with:
- the assessment of victim' specific needs;
- qualified police assistance;
- the compared experience of victim support in Europe;
- the importance of certified quality support in the third sector;
- amongst others.
This event is organised within Project "Right to Quality Services for Victims of Crime" (2012-2014), promoted by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support and co-financed by the European Commission under the Criminal Justice Programme of the European Union. Project Rigth to Quality Services for Victims of Crime is developed in partnership with Victim Support Scotland, Weisser Ring Germany, University of Tilburg - INTERVICT (The Netherlands) and Institut d'Aide aux Victimes et de Médiation (INAVEM) (France).
Information, registration, programme:
apav.pt/quality
Conference: Exploring the potential of restorative justice for sexual violence | 12-14 November | Leuven
The conference "Exploring the potential of restorative justice for sexual violence" will take place from the 12 to 14 November 2014, in Leuven (Belgium) at the University of Leuven.
The conference aims not only to disseminate the preliminary results of the Daphne Project (financed by the European Commission) but also to gather a number of world experts from academia, practice and policy on the topic. Based on the presentation of original papers, the conference offers a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas for the possible further development of restorative justice in the field of sexual violence.
The Conference is being organised by the Leuven Institute of Criminology/University of Leuven (Belgium) in collaboration with University College Dublin (Ireland); Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg (Germany); the University of Tilburg (the Netherlands); The National Institute for Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (Denmark); the AIM project (UK), the Centre on Violence, Traumatic Stress and Suicide Prevention, University Hospital of Trondheim (Norway) and the European Forum for Restorative Justice.
For more information:
www.law.kuleuven.be
Conference on Protection Orders in the EU Member States | 28 November | Lisbon
The Conference on Protection Orders in the EU Member States will be held in Lisbon (Hotel Olissipo Oriente), on the 28th of November 2014.
Victims of intimate partner violence, stalking and domestic violence often have a need to be protected against (repeated) violence by their offender. Protection orders may provide such protection, but currently we know very little of the manner in which they function on paper and in practice.
During the conference the results of the Daphne III project ‘Protection Orders in the European Member States’ (POEMS) will be presented. This project aimed to make an inventory of protection order legislation and practice in the Member States, to identify best practices and possible gaps, and to evaluate the level of protection offered to victims. Also the recently introduced European Protection Order will be discussed in the light of the results of the POEMS project. The ultimate goal is to enhance the protection provided to victims. How can current laws and practices in relation to protection orders be improved?
This conference is of interest to (legal) practitioners dealing with victims of crime, gender-based violence, violence against women, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual violence (government officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, victim support organizations, NGOs, students).
Program, information and registration:
apav.pt/poems