The Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery entered into force on October 13, 2021. It encompasses compensation and assistance legislation for victims of crime and provides measures that focus on the real needs of victims, including:

greater recognition of victims;
more effective and fair financial assistance;
abolishing the list of criminal offences;
inclusion of offences against the person committed abroad;
removal of statutory limitations on compensation claims for offences related to sexual abuse, childhood abuse and domestic violence;
greater psychotherapeutic and psychosocial support;
new obligations for government departments and bodies.

The Act recenters the judicial process around victims, facilitates their recovery and helps them move on with their lives.

To learn more about the legislative changes brought about by the Act, visit the Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels (IVAC) website.

Supplementary videos

Discover training and information tools for government department and bodies working with victims (In French).

Assistance for government departments and bodies

To help the government departments and bodies concerned prepare their service statements and complaint processing procedures, the Ministère de la Justice has created the Bureau de soutien aux services aux personnes victimes d’infractions criminelles (“BSSV”), an office dedicated to assisting victims of criminal offences.

This office is responsible for receiving all service statements from government departments and bodies covered by the Act, as well as information relating to the complaints filed with these departments and bodies by victims. This information will be included in the Minister’s report to be tabled in the National Assembly for each fiscal year. The BSSV also informs and guides victims throughout the complaint process, in the event of dissatisfaction, with these government departments or bodies.

Support tools

Note: these documents are in French.

For any questions relating to the legislative changes brought about by the Act, contact: [email protected].

For specific questions on the service statements and complaint processing procedures, contact: [email protected].

Professionals working with victims of criminal offenses

Supplementary videos

Assistance for government departments and bodies

Support tools

Publications

Professionals working with victims of criminal offenses

Supplementary videos

Assistance for government departments and bodies

Support tools

Publications

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