OUR STORY

THE ORIGIN OF UAVMD

In the late 90s and in the beginning of the new century, Portugal experienced a new upsurge of immigration and it was attested that the immigrant citizens, who fell victims to crime, required specialized support that could take in consideration their specific vulnerabilities. This included, for example, lack of knowledge of the judicial system and social services in Portugal; cultural aspects that can influence intervention strategies; and their residence status in the country and subsequent difficulties in exercising one’s rights. This newfound reality led APAV to adapt its support services, finding both new approaches and intervention strategies.

Recognizing this need, in 2005, APAV in collaboration with the High Commission for Migration (ACM), former ACIME, developed the Support Unit for Migrant and Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Victims (UAVIDRE), with the goal of providing qualified support to immigrants who have been victims of crimes of racial or ethnic discrimination. The work UAVIDRE developed inside APAV led to the creation of the current Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims.

WHAT IS UAVMD?

The Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims is a sub-network specialized in the support of migrant citizens or of citizens who do not have Portuguese nationality and reside in Portugal for whatever reason and who have been victims of a crime. This sub-network has the main goal of addressing the needs of these groups and people who, considering their special vulnerability, are frequent preferred targets of several types of crime and lack specialized support.

The Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims has been specializing its intervention in specific crimes which, regardless of the nationality of the victim, have been significantly prevalent in Portugal, such as human trafficking, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, hate crimes and discrimination, as well as discriminatory situations that are considered misdemeanors.

Considering that the migrant populations in Portugal are spread through different parts of the country, APAV has been promoting the continuity of this service, taking the initiative of developing the Support Network for Migrant and Discrimination Victims so as to decentralize this specialized support. This network aims to provide a better response and to obtain a better coordination of efforts in specific support, being currently comprised of the following support units:

UAVMD – Lisbon

Support Unit for Migrant and Discrimination Victims (UAVMD)

Based in Lisbon, sharing their facilities with the Lisbon’s local scheme of the Association for Victim Support of Lisbon and the headquarters of APAV, this Unit has the objective of providing qualified support to crime victims who seek our support. It also supports other local schemes of APAV in the specialized intervention in situations which are befitting to the Network’s scope of intervention.

The UAVMD Lisbon has the support of the Lisbon Municipal Council.

UAVMD – AZORES

Support Unit for Migrant and Discrimination Victims (UAVMD)

Based in Ponta Delgada, this Unit has the objective of providing qualified support to crime victims who seek our support and who reside in the archipelago of the Azores. It specializes responding to situations which are befitting to the Network’s scope of intervention.

Lisbon Headquarters Services

Rua José Estêvão 135 A
1150-201, Lisboa, Portugal

phone 21 358 79 00
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