International Activities
The general goal of the Swedish Crime Victim Authority is to work for the interests and needs of victims of crime. As a Centre of Competence, one of the authority’s tasks is to monitor crime victim issues from an international perspective, by gathering and spreading information about crime victims, and participating in projects and different forms of international cooperation.
On the basis of its commission and the developments that have taken place within the field, the authority aims to increase knowledge about international law as well as support and help to crime victims in other countries. In particular, the authority monitors matters regarding crime victims within the European Union.
In 2021 the Swedish Crime Victim Authority (Brottsoffermyndigheten) was appointed as the EU single contact point for victims of terrorism for Sweden.
International Projects
Different projects are carried out either independently or in cooperation with other institutions and individual experts. The Swedish Crime Victim Authority often works as a partner in projects coordinated by other agencies.
The Swedish Crime Victim Authority is currently one of the partner organisations in the EStAR project (Enhancing Stakeholders Awareness and Resources for Hate Crime Victim Support). The project will equip state and non-state actors with the necessary tools and resources to ensure that hate crime victims are protected, enjoy full access to justice and receive tailored specialist support. The project will also create a network of experts, developing a framework for sharing international standards and good practices while ensuring that the resources reach those who need them. The two-year project is being implemented by ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights). Funding for the project is provided by the EU Commission and the Federal Government of Germany.
The authority also participates in the cooperation taking place in the European Network for the rights of victims of crime, ENVR. Furthermore, the authority has within the framework for the government commission on information to victims of terrorism had information exchange with Victim Support Europe and the European Commission's Expert Center for victims of terrorism, EUCVT.
International Cooperation
The activities of the authority also include international cooperation such as participation in working groups and conferences at an international level, especially within the European Union. The authority has arranged a number of Nordic conferences on different crime victim issues. The authority has also been represented several times in working groups set up by the Council of Europe.
European Criminal Injuries Compensation
The Swedish Crime Victim Authority handles applications regarding so-called European criminal injuries compensation as well. This task is based on Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims, which aims to facilitate the situation for people who have been subjected to a crime while residing in another EU member state.
Through this directive, the member states are bound to adopt legislation which guarantees state compensation to victims of violent crimes committed on their respective territories. One intention is that EU citizens shall be able to apply for compensation in the country where they live, even if the crime occurred in another member state. Therefore, a system for cooperation between the national agencies handling state compensation has been created.
It is the task of the lead authority in the country receiving the application (the injured party’s member state) to forward the application to its counterpart in the country responsible for paying out compensation (where the crime took place). Consequently, a Swedish citizen who is subjected to a crime in another EU member state may apply for compensation from the Swedish Crime Victim Authority.
The regulations comprise victims of premeditated crimes of violence. It is up to the members of the union themselves to determine the compensation levels.
Read more about EU legislation regarding state compensation to crime victims as well as other crime victim rights on the official website of the European Union.