Bridging the justice gap? The role of victim counsel across four countries - Iceland, the Netherlands, Australia, and the US
About event organiser
Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVe) is a network of interdisciplinary researchers focused on addressing the complex problem of violence against women and their children. MAEVe strives to make a difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities through collaboration and participatory research co-designed with survivors.
Event information
About the event
For more information and to register, see the event page.
This article argues that specialized victim counsel can bridge the "justice gap" by providing essential legal advice and representation. Through comparative case studies of Iceland, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States, this research examines the role of victim counsel in sexual offense proceedings. While all four jurisdictions recognize the victim’s legitimate interest in the criminal process, they diverge significantly on the extent to which they institutionalize professional legal means for navigating trial complexities. The level of professional assistance ranges from legal advice provided outside of court by victim services and community legal centres, to fully-codified, state-funded victim counsels appointed to victims from the investigative phase through sentencing. By highlighting these systemic variations, this study aims to spark policy discussions regarding international best practices, rationales and the feasibility of implementing robust legal counsel for victims worldwide.
Please direct all queries to the organiser: maeve-admin@unimelb.edu.au.
.webp)
See all upcoming events in the calendar
Subscribe to our pānui and our news and events mailing lists
Never miss an update! Receive the latest news and event information directly to your inbox.