Assessing gaps in supporting victims of hate and violent extremism: findings from an european survey

• In Event: Rethinking Justice for Victims of Structural Harm and Exploitation

Abstract

Hate and violent extremism incidents are a growing global concern, with wide-ranging impacts on victims. To better understand these issues, and within the scope of the EU-funded project "VicTory: Restorative and Victim-Centred Approach to Mitigate Hate and (Violent) Extremism", an online survey was conducted. It targeted key professionals - including criminal justice professionals, victim support workers, and case managers - as well as other stakeholders involved in responding to such incidents, primarily from the project's partner countries (Portugal, Italy, Spain, Finland, and Hungary), but also from across Europe.

This presentation will highlight the findings of the survey, which was administered between January 27 and February 24, 2025, and completed by 93 participants. Responses were mainly from Spain (29.0%), Portugal (21.5%), and Finland (17.2%), and most respondents’ organizations operate at the national (59.1%) and/or regional level (41.9%).

The results revealed that while the majority of respondents reported familiarity with national legislation on victims' rights, they perceived these frameworks as ineffective in practice. Commonly cited gaps in implementation included resource constraints, lack of institutional coordination, and insufficient professional training. Regarding victims of hate crimes and violent extremism specifically, most respondents viewed existing legal frameworks as somewhat or very ineffective in addressing their needs.

Additionally, professionals highlighted key obstacles faced by victims, including a lack of information on available resources, difficulty navigating legal processes, fear of retaliation or stigma, and a general lack of trust in institutions. These findings underscore the urgent need for more effective protection and support mechanisms for victims, emphasizing the necessity to strengthen victim-centered policies and ensuring that legal frameworks are well-established and effective.

Authors

• Inês Guedes, Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Crime, Justice and Security of the School of Criminology - Faculty of Law of the University of Porto

• Pedro Sousa, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Justice (CIJ/FDUP); School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto

• Samuel Moreira, CIJ (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Justice) - School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto, Portugal | CEJEIA (Center for Legal, Economic, International and Environmental Studies) - Lusíada University, Portugal

• Margarida A. Santos, CIJ - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Justice; School of Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Porto

• Camila Iglesias, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Justice (CIJ); Faculty of Law of the University of Porto (FDUP)