Victim Support and Human Rights: A Case Study from Sweden

• In Event: Let's Support Victims

Abstract

Human rights have been one of the driving forces behind the formation of victim support organizations in many countries. This presentation will give a picture of how Sweden’s oldest and largest victim support and advocacy organization – Victim Support Sweden (VSS) – has focused on human rights since their founding in 1988. The VSS national association guides around 100 local victim support centers, for instance, by providing education and training. The national association also seeks to raise awareness among policy makers and the public at large about crime victim’s needs and operates a national helpline. The study is based on rich material from VSS’s national archive including: letters, articles in member magazines, and minutes from board meetings and working groups. We have also conducted interviews with current and present chairs of the national board and secretary-generals. The presentation will show when and how VSS raised human rights as an area of concern, as well as how it has defined and applied the concept of human rights within the context of victim support. We will also illustrate how VSS worked to establish a human rights perspective within their organization and practice.

Authors

• Kerstin Svensson, Lund University

• Carina Gallo, Lund University