Professionals Discussed Introduction of Victim Support System in Serbia

On December 18 the MDTF-JSS organized conference on victim support in Serbia. Aim of the conference was to present reports and analysis prepared to inform Serbian authorities how to ensure quality of victim support services and role of NGOs in providing victim support, as well as practice of entry points institutions. In addition, the MDTF-JSS presented draft methodology and preliminary results of cost benefit analysis of victim support in Serbia. Aim of the conference was to ensure expert discussion on selected topics on victim support and presentation of comparative experience from Portugal, Hungary and Greece.Presentation of reports was followed by the discussion that went beyond the topics of the panels, because participants were interested to learn how different comparative systems function and how Serbia can learn from them.The discussion following the presentation of quality standards in Portugal revolved around the funding opportunities for victim support system in Portugal. Discussion was focused on victim surcharge in Portugal and allocation to victim support organizations. The discussion also went towards exploring how Portuguese victim support providers came to start improving their quality and introducing quality standards and looked into how different types of standards already in place ensure increased quality of services. In addition to quality standards participants were interested in volunteering, especially how APAV is recruiting volunteers and how they contribute to their work.

Regarding the discussion on the role of NGOs, the participants were particularly interested to discuss the dynamics between the state and NGO run victim support services in Hungary and were interested to know about the added value of one and the other type of service. In addition the participants were interest to lean about the different forms of financial assistance provided to victims by government and NGO providers. Special interest of participants was on the commitment of the Hungarian government to keep the NGO victim support running, despite the introduction of state support services.

Participants were very interested in methodology of cost-benefit analysis. Representatives from Center for social work and prosecution offices provided their suggestions how to improve methodology to better reflect reality in current spending on victims and costs of victimization. The World Bank will continue to work on Cost-benefit analysis to provide better insight into the costs of victimization and benefits that state will get once when comprehensive victim support system will be established.

Vivid discussion reveal that Serbian stakeholders are interested to learn from other experiences and build comparative best practices into the future Serbian system of victim support.