The RE-TREAT project (https://sexualviolencejustice.eu/re-treat-project/) aims to improve the treatment of victims of sexual violence in criminal proceedings in Greece, Italy and Spain. European partners include the University Carlos III and the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Sassari and the Union of Women Associations of Heraklion (UWAH) and Eurocrime.
Starting with the national reports published at the end of 2020, the Autonomous University of Madrid conducted a comparative.
“The Transnational Comparative Reportaims to alert public authorities to the relevance of caring about how a woman victim of sexual violence is treated. We need to invest in the skills of professionals in order to reduce secondary victimisation and increase society’s awareness of the rights of victims of sexual crimes,” said Sabela Oubiña Barbolla, Professor of Law Procedure at UAM.
Among the direct beneficiaries are professionals from the legal system or support centres for victims of violence.
The Catholic University of Leuven has developed a practical tool to improve the skills justice professionals. “We have identified standards divided into three main blocks – knowledge, practice and system orientation – with additional information and practical examples to help professionals apply them in their work,” highlighted Monique Anderson and Evelien Claes, researchers at the Catholic University of Leuven.
In the coming months, the project partners will be engaged in the implementation of national training courses for legal and health professionals interested in improving their skills in the field of victim treatment.