Skip to content

News

Symposium: “Leave No Victim Behind: Victims’ Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals”

On February 22nd 2024, VSE is organizing an in-person event titled ‘Leave No Victim Behind: Victims’ Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals’, hosted at The Press Club Brussels Europe. The event is scheduled from 13:30 to 17:00 (CET) and will also be broadcasted on YouTube’s  ‘Brussels Press Club TV’ for those unable to attend in person.

The symposium aims to underscore the inherent link between victims’ rights and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It seeks to foster dialogue among stakeholders to address identifiable gaps and challenges. Through the sharing of victims’ testimonies and expert insights, the event will emphasize the necessity for an inclusive approach to sustainable development.

Program Highlights

Panel Session 1: Setting the Context – Victims’ Rights and Specific SDGs

Discussion Topics: 

  • Victims’ Rights and Sustainable Development Goals in the Revised Victims’ Rights Directive (European Commission)
  • OSCE & SDGs: How the Implementation of SDGs Could Boost the Anti-Trafficking Response and Particularly Assist Victims of This Crime(OSCE)
  • EU Commitments to a Rights-Based Approach to Sustainable Development (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights)
  • The interconnectedness between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and victim resilience’(University of Hull)

Panel Session 2: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Discussion Topics:

  • Victim-Sensitive Approach to Justice and SDG16 (CAW)
  • Topic TBC (Slachtofferhulp Nederland)
  • Victim-Centered Criminal Justice Reforms (UNODC)

Panel Session 3: SDGs 8 & 10 – Equality and Inclusion

Discussion Topics:

  • The Challenges Faced by Undocumented Migrants and Those with an Insecure Status Across Different Spheres of Life(PICUM)
  • Improving Access to Justice for People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families (Inclusion Europe)
  • Improving Access to Justice for Older Victims of Crime (European Parliament / AGE Platform)
  • Increasing Access to Justice for Sex Workers (European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance)

The symposium will be followed by networking drinks, during which you will have the opportunity to engage with the speakers and other guests of VSE.

If you intend to attend the event in person, kindly register using the following link, as spaces are limited:  https://vse-form.typeform.com/to/yoewOrMS?typeform-source=victim-support.eu

Please note that registration closes on Monday, February 19th. 

>>More detailed information about the event can be found here.

For further questions, please contact comms-intern@victimsupporteurope.eu.

Related News

Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.

Recap

Electronic monitoring, Technology

14th Electronic Monitoring Conference, Electronic Monitoring in a Changing World – Perception vs Reality

08/10/2026

On 6-8 October 2026, Antalya hosted the 14th Electronic Monitoring Conference “Electronic Monitoring in a Changing World – Perception vs Reality”. More than 350 participants coming from 30 countries across Europe and worldwide representing probation services, Ministries of Justice, victims´ services, EM providers, researchers as well as local participants representing the Turkish Prison and Probation Service gathered to discuss how electronic monitoring (EM) is understood by all stakeholders involved including the victims and the public, and how these perceptions compare to the evidence and experiences of those affected. While the gap between perception and reality in electronic monitoring has been recognised for over a decade, the rapid expansion of EM into areas such as victim protection, high-risk supervision and digital innovation has brought new challenges and questions to the forefront.

Recap

ITSCCS

Core Correctional Skills in Digital Probation: highlights from the 6th ITSCCS in Barcelona

05/10/2026

The sixth International Training School on Core Correctional Skills (ITSCCS) took place in Barcelona from 28 September to 2 October 2026, bringing together 26 participants for a week of learning, practical training and international exchange. Organised by the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (CEJFE), the programme focused on “Clicks and Empathy: Core Correctional Skills in Digital Probation.”

Recap

Framework Decisions

Recap: ERA workshop on Framework Decisions 829 and 947 in Bucharest

02/10/2026

CEP Vice-President Daniel Danglades, Ambassador Gerry McNally and Policy Officer Mirka Jakesova participated in the Seminar on Framework Decisions 829 and 947 and their Impact on Alternatives in the EU organized under the EU project run by the Academy of European Law on 28-29 September in Bucharest, Romania. The seminar brought together judges, prosecutors, probation practitioners, academics, and policy experts to discuss the growing role of alternatives to detention within European criminal justice systems. 

New

CEP

CEP and Catalan justice leaders reaffirm longstanding cooperation

29/09/2026

Representatives of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) met with senior officials from the Catalan Department of Justice and Democratic Quality in Barcelona on 28 September 2026, alongside the opening of the sixth International Training School on Core Correctional Skills. The meeting offered an opportunity to recognise a longstanding partnership and discuss its continued development.

Updated

Mental Health

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Call for Pilot Implementation of the European Mental Health Training Curriculum

29/09/2026

Good news for CEP members! Following requests from our members, CEP has extended the deadline to apply for the pilot implementation of the European Mental Health Training Curriculum for Probation Officers.

Recap

ITSCCS, Technology

6th International Training School opens in Barcelona with a focus on digital probation

28/09/2026

How can probation professionals use new technologies in their interactions while building trust, showing empathy and supporting change? This question is at the heart of the sixth International Training School on Core Correctional Skills, which opened in Barcelona on 28 September 2026.

Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!