“What is still absent in criminal law today is how victims can be protected from offenders after they have served their sentence, so this issue needs to be dealt with,” the Minister of Justice declared.
Speaking at the opening of the Victim Protection Center in Zalaegerszeg (Zala County, western Hungary), Bence Tuzson stated that legal assistance should also be provided to those who, as victims of violent crime, need protection from the perpetrator even after their release.
The politician explained that crime statistics show there are very few crimes in Zala County, but one case is more than enough, and even one victim should be helped.
Criminal law is not victim-centered, and this aspect did not receive much attention worldwide until the 1970s. However, Hungary has recently started developing a network of victim support centers, and the one in Zalaegerszeg is the 13th support center operating in the country, the minister said.
When a person becomes a victim of crime, they are often in shock, and that’s why they need someone to guide them through the victim support process. It is crucial to involve the police, government agencies, civil, and church organizations. In some cases, such as in the field of relationship violence, victims are often hidden, requiring more attention.
In Hungary, more than 140 state, church, and civil organizations already support victim protection, aiming to provide the most effective support to victims through optimal cooperation.
A free helpline has been in place since 2011, but the goal is to have a victim support center in every county by 2025.
Last year, a total of 168,000 crimes were registered, a four percent increase from the previous year, with 98,000 citizens becoming victims of these offenses. In 2022, 4.5 percent of victims were directed to helpers by the police; in 2023, this number increased to 15 percent.
During the opening of the Victim Support Center in Zalaegerszeg, Deputy Minister of Justice Róbert Répássy signed a cooperation agreement with the government office, the police, and the Zala Civil Life Association.
