Legal Frameworks
EU
Legal Framework
If you have experienced a hate crime or an act of violent extremism (or know someone who has), it’s important to know that you are not alone, and that the European Union has strong laws in place to protect victims’ rights and ensure their safety.
The legislation addressed in this section applies to all EU member states, meaning that your rights are protected no matter where the crime occurred within the European Union.
(2012/29/EU)
→ This Directive lays down the minimum set of rights for victims of crime that EU countries are required to guarantee in their jurisdictions to ensure that victims are recognised and treated in a respectful manner.
→ It is directed to all victims of crime, meaning every person that suffered negative consequences directly caused by a criminal offence.
(Directive 2004/80/EC)
→ This Directive requires all EU countries to have a compensation scheme for victims of violent intentional crime committed under their jurisdiction, and sets up an EU-wide cooperation system to help victims of crime get compensation based on national compensation schemes.
(Directive 2011/99/EU)
→ This Directive allows for a prolongation of national protection measures for vulnerable victims when they travel or move to another EU country (e.g. restraining orders).
Victims of Hate Crimes
Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating racism and xenophobia through criminal law: This Decision requires EU countries to criminalise racist and xenophobic hate crimes and hate speech.
Racial Equality Directive (2000/43/EC): This Directive ensures that anyone who has been subject to discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin should have adequate means of legal protection, as well as equal treatment in finding employment, education and access to services.
Victims of Violent Extremism
(2020–2025) and a Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU
→ Both provisions set priorities including prevention, protection, and prosecution of extremist threats
Addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online
→ This regulation mandates the removal of extremist content within one hour upon receiving the request. It also enhanced the protection against online radicalisation.
Addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online
→ This regulation strengthens obligations for online platforms to tackle illegal content, including terrorist and hate material.
