As the largest European network dedicated to Women’s Specialist Services, WAVE has been closely monitoring the European Parliament’s discussions concerning the proposed revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive (VRD), unveiled by the European Commission earlier this year in June. With a focus on advocating for Women’s Specialist Services, WAVE conducted an in-depth analysis of the proposed changes, aiming to align this revision with the current standards on victims’ rights. Our primary emphasis has been on ensuring specialized support for vulnerable groups.

In our commitment to addressing gender-based violence against women and domestic violence victims comprehensively, WAVE actively participated in a consultation with the co-rapporteurs Soraya Rodriguez Ramos (FEMM) and Javier Zarzalejos (LIBE) on November 15th. During this session, we provided detailed feedback on the file. Subsequently, before the amendment’s deadline, we shared our insights with the co-rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs, contributing significantly to the ongoing debate.

Our proposed amendments pivot around the crucial need for comprehensive support for all victims. We highlight the necessity for targeted measures to address the unique challenges faced by different victim groups, especially survivors of gender-based violence against women.

In this vein, WAVE maintains a steadfast stance, advocating actively for the inclusion of Women Specialist Services within this Directive. It’s important to note that advocating for specialized protection for women victims of violence, as well as Women Specialist Services, does not diminish the significance of general support services. Quite the contrary, we consistently emphasize the incorporation of both general and specialist services in all legislation concerning victims of violence against women and domestic violence. This approach aligns with the complementarity of protection levels envisaged in EU legislation, as well as with our commitment to a holistic strategy in assisting victims of gender-based violence against women, as outlined in the Istanbul Convention.

We invite you to delve into our detailed analysis and proposed amendments to this file. We aim to further contribute to these essential discussions and offer amendments that bolster the effectiveness of this initiative.