Delegation from Victim Support Europe visits the European Comission

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Vĕra Jourová, Member of the European Comission in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, received Helgard van Hüllen and João Lázaro, Vice-Presidents of Victim Support Europe (VSE), Levent Altan, Executive Director of VSE, Sabrina Bellucci, Member of the Executive Board of VSE, and An Verelst, Policy Officer of VSE.

PROTEUS Seminar | Identity theft online: preventing, fighting & supporting victims

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For the past several years, identity theft and identity fraud have become more sophisticated and transnational crimes across the globe.

The generalized use of information and communication technologies and Internet allows for the internationalization of criminality and the constant appearance of new ways to commit such crimes, often perpetrated by highly sophisticated criminal organisations. The growth of social networks is making it easier for identity thieves to manipulate human behaviour in order to get the information needed to perpetrate the offenses.

Cybercrime victims are particularly unprotected and in urgent need of specialised and individualised support, support that the professionals involved are not yet prepared to give.

Another subject to bear in mind is the investigation difficulties faced due to the transnational nature of these crimes. International cooperation amongst States and with Internet service providers is essential.

The PROTEUS Seminar | Identity theft online: preventing, fighting & supporting victims, held in Lisbon on 29-30 October 2015, will be an important and unique opportunity to debate cross cutting issues related with identity theft and its legal framework, modi operandi, investigation, international cooperation and support to victims.

Programme and further information:
www.apav.pt/proteus

Exhibition "The Voice of Silence" | Lisbon

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APAV promotes the exhibition "The Voice of Silence" ("A Voz do Silêncio") in Lisbon, an exhibition that brings together the best communication pieces of APAV in the last 25 years. The exhibition will be on Avenida Duque d'Avila in Lisbon, from the 6th to the 20th of August.

In 2015 the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since 1990 APAV has supported an increasing number of victims of crime, an estimated population of over 270,000 people. Over 25 years APAV, together with the support of advertising agencies, has developed an immense work on raising awareness campaigns. That is the work that we bring to you today. This outreach work complements the direct support to victims of crime and is critical to the fulfillment of the social mission of the APAV. APAV, 25 years giving voice to silence.

APAV awarded the Order of Liberty

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On the 10th of June - Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities - the President of the Portuguese Republic awarded APAV with the degree of Honorary Member of the Order of Liberty in the official celebrations.
 
APAV is truly honoured by this award and being able to participate in the national celebrations, which took place a few days before APAV's 25th anniversary, on June 25th, 1990. We are also grateful to a group of a hundred personalities who proposed APAV for this award and according to whom the award would "give attention to victims of crime, especially those most vulnerable; that is, reminding the Portuguese society that these people at some point in their lives have been touched by crime and violence and could then count on the support of a civil society, mostly made up of generous volunteers" and would also "grant APAV fair recognition of their mission and their work over the years."