Enhancing the efficiency of the justice system through the protection/empowerment of victims and vulnerable parties

Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe

Ministry of Justice of Slovak republic obtain the benefits from a 1 020 000,00 € grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants. The project has been co-financed from the State Budget of the Slovak Republic in the amount of 180 000,00€. The aim of the project is to to contribute to the efficiency and quality of judicial system in area of protection of the victims of crime and protection of minors within the family law disputes. Part of this endeavour is the pilot project on selected district courts, which should be focused on the settling of family law disputes (so called “family courts”).

Since October 2019, in the interest of the best possible protection of minors, an environment has been created for close cooperation between judges, psychologists, social protectors or mediators in family legal disputes, who are specially trained to deal with minors. The environment in which minors interact should therefore take into account their needs and the whole hearing should be less stressful for them.

This project should complement and strengthen the Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Program funded by the Norwegian Funds, as victims of domestic violence need exceptional understanding and protection. Therefore, the main purpose of the project is to fill in the gaps that are not covered by the gender-based violence program.

The planned completion of the main activities of the project is expected in October 2022, when comprehensive protection of vulnerable participants will be achieved.

The total eligible expenses for the implementation of project activities amount to € 1,200,000.00, of which € 1,020,000 will be financed through EEA Grants and € 180,000 from the national budget.

More information about the project.

https://www.crz.gov.sk/4493433/
https://www.crz.gov.sk/zmluva/5793294/

Major milestones:

2020 - 2022

Inter-ministerial meetings in order to strengthen cooperation or the promotion and dissemination of knowledge between different state bodies

An expert meeting of representatives of ministries, the General Prosecutor's Office, the police force but also civic associations took place at the opening conference on the interrogation of particularly vulnerable victims and their impact on the psyche, but also on the topic of interrogation rooms.

The outcome of these meetings should be measures that harmonize the practices of the various state bodies towards victims. The introduction of protection orders aimed at the offender (such as restraining order, electronic monitoring), alternative sanctions and protection measures (trial and resocialisation programs for offenders) are other aspects developed in this project.

2020 - 2022

2021

Modification of specialized rooms in 8 courts

Regional Court Prešov, District Court Prešov, District Court Bratislava II, District Court Galanta, District Court Zvolen, District Court Rimavská Sobota, District Court Rožňava, District Court Spišská Nová Ves.

2021

Educational program for mediators and judges

Training in personal skills should increase the sensitivity of judges and mediators to the needs of minors and also improve their focus on family law matters

2021

2022

Study stay for 36 judges, prosecutors and employees of MS SR

Exchange of expertise during 2 visits to Norway for 16 judges and 16 prosecutors. The aim of these visits is to pass on best practice from Norway, to improve knowledge of the methods and procedures designed to protect victims and to put in place measures to prevent secondary and repeat victimization in court proceedings

2022

Selection of a program aimed at judges and prosecutors

The aim is to create an educational program that will not only improve knowledge about the treatment of victims, but also create synergies between the prosecutor's office and the courts, thus unifying the attitude towards victims throughout the judicial process

2022

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.

The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion. The priorities for this period are:

#1 Innovation, Research, Education and Competitiveness
#2 Social Inclusion, Youth Employment and Poverty Reduction
#3 Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy
#4 Culture, Civil Society, Good Governance and Fundamental Rights
#5 Justice and Home Affairs

The EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP.

Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.

All projects are co-financed by the State Budget of the Slovak Republic in the amount of 15%.

If you want to know more about programmes and projects financed by the EEA Grants in Slovakia, visit www.eeagrants.sk.

https://www.crz.gov.sk/4493433/
https://www.crz.gov.sk/zmluva/5793294/