Victim Support Europe (VSE) and the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) are delighted to welcome you to the Victim Support Europe 2025 Annual Conference – “35 Years of Victim Support in Europe – Transforming Lives Today, Inspiring a Brighter Tomorrow”.
VSE Annual Conference 2025 will take place in Lisbon from 22 – 23 May 2025. It will be a hybrid conference, and we hope to welcome victim support community and affiliated professionals from around the world both on-site, at the spectacular premises of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and digitally.
In 2025 we celebrate VSE and APAV’s 35th anniversary, so you can expect this year’s conference to not only have plenty of memorable moments, but also be a cross-cutting time to reflect on the growth and progresses achieved throughout more than thirty decades in victim support!
Our program aligns with the current political climate in post-election Europe and is guided by the Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission, with a particular focus on youth. It leverages the momentum of 2025, a year that holds significant historical importance for victims’ rights within the European Union (EU). Key milestones include:
- 40th Anniversary of the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (adopted on 29th November 1985 by the General Assembly), which established the foundational principles for the protection and support of victims.
- 25th Anniversary of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to fundamental freedoms.
- 5th Anniversary of the EU’s First Strategy on Victims’ Rights (2020-2025), marking a pivotal moment for assessing progress and refining policy implementation.
- Reform of the Victims’ Rights Directive, highlighting ongoing legislative efforts to ensure comprehensive protection for victims across the EU.
Our program seeks to build on these milestones, ensuring that the rights and support for victims remain a central priority in the evolving European landscape.
