Cross-border Victims in Europe

Elżbieta Hryniewicz-Lach is associate professor of criminal law at the Law Faculty of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. Her research interests focus on various aspects of the response to crime, the impact of a conviction on third parties, and the status of the victim in criminal law. She is the author of publications in Polish, English, and German, in the field of criminal law. She has participated in international research projects in criminal law and victimology.Michael Kilchling is a senior researcher in the Department of Public Law at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, and a lecturer at the University of Freiburg. His main research interests include criminal law, penology, criminology, victimology, and restorative justice. He has contributed to a variety of international research projects and expert groups (national, European Union, Council of Europe, and United States).

This compilation offers us a brilliant and much needed collective work to understand the experiences of cross-border victims when confronting the gap between victim law in the text and victim law in action. Despite the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the 1985 UN Declaration of basic principles of justice for victims of crime and abuse of power and the 13th anniversary of the 2012 EU Directive on victims’ rights, we need to read carefully the pages of this collective book to understand why we are not respecting those rights. This unique book shows us concrete and practical guidance to, at least, not provoke further harm. Following those international standards, this book helps us to confront our legal and ethical duty to make real the globalisation of human rights beyond borders.Gema Varona, President of the World Society of Victimology, Professor of Victimology at the Faculty of Law of Donostia/San Sebastián, SpainThis book is a must read for all victimologists. Even though it focuses on the problems of cross-border victimization, it clearly magnifies the issues faced by a much larger group of crime victims – and the ways we can address them. It is an example for international scholarship.Marc Groenhuijsen, Professor emeritus at the Faculty of Law of Tilburg University, the NetherlandsFormer president and holder of the Hans von Hentig Award of the World Society of VictimologyCross-border victimisation is growing in its incidence and its effects, whether it be through cyber fraud attacks from abroad in one's home or when one travels abroad. Support and rights for such victims, however, have not kept up with this and there is a key need to renovate national and international systems and support to deal with such victimisation. This edited book will be a major resource to spur such change.Joanna Shapland, Professor emeritus, University of Sheffield, UKThis excellent book addresses the special predicaments of those victimized by crime in Europe as non-residents. It provides both a thorough analysis of the issues as well as practical recommendations for action by national governments and European organizations.Jan van Dijk, Professor emeritus in victimology and human security at Tilburg University, the Netherlands Holder of the Hans von Hentig Award of the World Society of Victimology and winner of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology 2012Each year, countless individuals become victims of crime while traveling, working, or studying outside their home countries or are targeted by criminals abroad. Too often, their voices go unheard, and their rights unmet. This publication rightly shines a light on critical gaps and advocates for tailored, transnational solutions. It underscores the urgent need for stronger cross-border cooperation, harmonised support mechanisms, and a truly victim-centred approach that responds to the realities of modern crime and transcends national boundaries.Levent Altan, Executive Director, Victim Support Europe, Brussels, Belgium

• Introduction 1. Who are the cross-border victims and why we should care for them 2. Barriers to free movement of victims in Europe observed at the European level I. Spotlight on the real-life conditions for cross-border victims in selected jurisdictions 3. Austria 4. Croatia 5. Germany 6. Italy 7. The Netherlands 8. North Macedonia 9. Poland 10. Spain 11. Switzerland 12. Türkiye II. Comparative perspectives 13. Victims’ rights in Europe – do the cross-border victims fit within the current concepts and structures? 14. The needs of cross-border victims and challenges thereto 15. Good practices in relation to cross-border victims 16. Undocumented migrants: How to help those who (do not) want to be seen 17. Free movement of victims in Europe: from diagnosis to possible intervention