The rights of crime victims in the context of European legislation

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Abstract

The study assesses the state of implementation of the European directive on victims' rights in the Slovak legal order and identifies gaps in victims' practical access to support services.

1. The legal framework

Act No. 274/2017 Coll. on victims of crime transposed the European directive into Slovak law. The practical availability of support services, however, remains regionally uneven.

2. Findings

The analysis shows that only 40 % of victims were demonstrably informed of their rights in a way they understood. The network of accredited bodies providing assistance to victims covers mainly regional capitals.

3. Recommendations

The study recommends introducing standardised protocols for informing victims, strengthening the funding of support services and systematically collecting data on victims’ satisfaction with criminal proceedings.

Bibliography

Zákon č. 274/2017 Z. z. o obetiach trestných činov.
Smernica Európskeho parlamentu a Rady 2012/29/EÚ.

Citation

JUDr. Mária Horváthová, PhD. (2026). The rights of crime victims in the context of European legislation. Bratislava: Institute of Criminology, Sociology of Law and Judicial Research.