Justice minister: Hungary outperforms EU victim protection requirements

Photo: MTI/Lakatos Péter

Hungary has already outperformed the victim protection goals adopted by the European Union in the first leg of the 2020-2025 period, Justice Minister Judit Varga said on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Varga briefed the meeting of EU justice ministers on the development of the Hungarian victim protection system.

The minister said on Facebook after the meeting that the EU’s victim support strategy for 2020-2025 included creating effective communication and safe spaces for victims, improving protection for the most vulnerable, facilitating access to compensation and strengthening cooperation among international and domestic players.

Hungary has declared 2020 the year of victim protection, Varga noted.

During that year, Hungary’s government introduced a scheme to reach victims directly, she said. Hungary also scrapped the need-based evaluation of compensating victims of violent crimes, and has raised the timeframe in which compensation claims can be submitted, she said.

Further, the government is working to set up a nationwide network of victim support centres, Varga said. State-run organisations cooperate with NGOs and churches to ensure effective and comprehensive services, she said.