Implementation of the Victims’ rights directive in Lithuania and Estonia: challenges and achievements

ENThe Victims’ Rights Directive, establishing minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of crime victims, is the cornerstone of the EU victims’ rights policy. Its provisions set minimum standards for the participatory rights of victims in criminal proceedings and introduce an individualised approach towards victims. The individualised approach, which takes account of the special vulnerability of particular victims, is also vital in implementing one of the core rights provided in the Directive—the right to support. The implementation of the Directive therefore requires a wide spectrum of legislative and non-legislative measures. This chapter addresses the strengths and weaknesses related to the implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive in two Baltic countries: Lithuania and Estonia. It is argued that in Lithuania the main emphasis has been placed on the formal transposition of the Directive, whereas Estonia also focuses on developing victim support services. However, the needs of the most vulnerable victims are not adequately addressed in either country. [From the publication]