THE IMPACT OF THE EU’S DIRECTIVE 2012/29/EU ON ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STANDARDS ON THE RIGHTS, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME TO THE MACEDONIAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Abstract

The authors of the paper discuss the compliance of the Macedonian criminal justice system with EU’s Directive 2012/29/EU on establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. The purpose of this Directive is to establish minimum standards for ensuring that the victims of crime receive appropriate information, support and protection and whether they are able to participate in the criminal proceedings. In this fashion it is recommended to the member states to ensure that victims are recognized and treated in a respectful, sensitive, tailored, professional and non-discriminatory manner including specific guarantees when the victim is a child. Furthermore, any treatment of the child victim should take into account its best interests and shall be approached on an individual basis, considering the child's age, maturity, views, needs and concerns. Moreover, the authors are scrutinizing whether these standards are properly incorporated into the Law on Criminal Procedure and they provide substantial recommendations for additional changes and amendments to the law in order to achieve the abovementioned criteria into Macedonian national law.