Samenvatting

This paper presents and analyses the new Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States ‘on rights, services and support for victims of crime’. The paper contextualizes the new Recommendation and clarifies its relation to the European Union Victims Directive 2012/29/EU. The main principles and definitions as adopted by the Recommendation are explained, including the definition of restorative justice. Then follows more into detail a discussion of the various chapters of the Recommendation with its 26 articles, showing how the victims’ rights and support are conceived. This is done with the help of the extensive Explanatory Memorandum as published by the Council of Europe, which also refers to the strong research base of many provisions. Most importantly, the link to restorative justice, present throughout the whole Recommendation, is highlighted.