APAV’s mission is to support victims of crime, their families and friends by providing free and confidential quality services.

If you are or were a victim of sexual violence or if you know some who is a victim of sexual violence, you have the right to ask for help and support.

You can:

• send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
• go to one of our victim support offices
• call 116 006.

APAV has Victim Support Officers duly trained and prepared to provide qualified and individual support to all victims of crime, according to their specific needs.

APAV will provide you:

• Practical support and information;
• Emotional support;
• Specialised legal, psychological and social support:

LEGAL SUPPORT means that APAV can:

• Inform you about your rights and how to exercise them.
• Provide clarification about the procedures and steps of a criminal proceeding.
• Prepare or accompany you in certain acts of the criminal proceeding, such as reporting a crime or going to court.
• Support you in the writing of documents required for the criminal proceedings, such as compensation claims, legal aid or protective measures’ requests, among others.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT means that APAV can:

• Evaluate the impact of the experience you lived.
• Help you dealing with the negative consequences and symptoms resulting from the experience.
• Referring you to other specialized health services, if necessary.
• Promote your skills, your safety and well-being.
• Prevent (re)victimization.
• Help you revealing to your family and/or friends the sexual violence you experienced.

In the area of SOCIAL SUPPORT, APAV can:

• Inform you about the different social resources available and how useful and adequate they are in meeting your social needs.
• Refer you to the services and structures that can best meet your needs, facilitating the contact with these structures and/or be by your side along the process.