Do you practice what (E)U preach? The EU system of cross-border protection for victims of recurrent crimes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1984Keywords:
Victim’s rights, intimate partner violence, protection orders, access to justice, judicial cooperation, Derechos de las víctimas, violencia de pareja, órdenes de protección, acceso a la justicia, cooperación judicialAbstract
Victims of recurrent crimes, particularly Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) victims, encounter unique challenges with the criminal justice system. The risk of repeat violence and retaliation deters them from engaging with legal processes, emphasising the critical need for effective protection measures in domestic and cross-border contexts. Protection orders, pivotal in preventing further victimisation, primarily operate within the issuing State, which has prompted the European Union to establish legal instruments based on the principle of mutual recognition to extend their applicability beyond national borders. Despite this, these measures are strikingly underused. This article delves into the root causes of this underutilisation and questions the overall usability of these measures by its beneficiaries. It also explores potential legal and non-legal solutions to transform them into a tangible resource for victims of recurring crimes across the EU.
Las víctimas de delitos recurrentes, en particular las víctimas de violencia de pareja, se enfrentan a retos únicos con el sistema de justicia penal. El riesgo de repetición de la violencia y de represalias las disuade de participar en procesos judiciales, lo que pone de relieve la necesidad crítica de medidas de protección eficaces en contextos nacionales y transfronterizos. Las órdenes de protección, fundamentales para evitar nuevas victimizaciones, funcionan principalmente dentro del Estado de emisión, lo que ha llevado a la Unión Europea a establecer instrumentos jurídicos basados en el principio de reconocimiento mutuo para ampliar su aplicabilidad más allá de las fronteras nacionales. A pesar de ello, estas medidas están sorprendentemente infrautilizadas. Este artículo ahonda en las causas profundas de esta infrautilización y cuestiona la utilidad general de estas medidas por parte de sus beneficiarios. También explora posibles soluciones jurídicas y no jurídicas para transformarlas en un recurso tangible para las víctimas de delitos recurrentes en toda la UE.
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