On 20 February, AdVIC (Advocates for Victims of Homicide), together with Victim Support Europe, will host a national meeting on victim support at the Department of Justice, 51 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, from 9:30am to 3:00pm.

The meeting will focus on Ireland’s victim support framework, including the role of the Victims Commissioner, cooperation between stakeholders, and access to psychosocial support for victims of crime. Through presentations and discussion, participants will examine current challenges and consider priorities for strengthening support services.

Representatives from the justice sector, government bodies, and victim support organisations will come together to share perspectives and contribute to discussions on how support for victims can be improved.

A summary of the discussions and key points raised during the meeting will be shared after the event.

Irish National Meeting 2025 Programme

Moderator: Susan Leahy, a senior lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Limerick. 

9.30

Registration

10.00

Introduction

Joan Deane, AdVIC Vice-Chair

10.10

National Strategy and the Role of the Victims Commissioner

Geraldine Hanna – Victim Commissioner for Northern Ireland

10.40

Cooperation and Coordination

Jerome Moreau – Vice President of France Victimes & VSE

11.10

The importance of Psychosocial Support for Victims of Crime

Maeve Lewis – Former of CEO of One in Four & Psychotherapist 

11.40

Lunch & Coffee Break

13.00

Break-out Sessions: 

Break out into sessions to deeper discuss, exchange ideas and work towards identifying key challenges and propose actionable recommendations.

Topic 1: National Strategy and Role of Victims Commissioner

13.40

Break-out Session:

Topic 2: Cooperation & Coordination

14.20

Break-out Session:

Topic 3: The Importance of Psychosocial Support for Victims of Crime

15.00

End of National Meeting