Victim perspective

The victim perspective e. V. is a non-profit association based in Potsdam . In 2000, the association established the first counseling center for victims of right-wing violence in Germany. This offers outreach advice in the state of Brandenburg . He systematically researches and records cases of right-wing violence across the country and addresses right-wing violence from the perspective of the victims. The victim perspective is a member of the nationwide “working group of victim aid” (ado) and of the Brandenburg “Action Alliance against Violence, Right-Wing Extremism and Xenophobia”.

Organization and goal setting

The victim perspective was founded in 1998 with the aim of countering the trivialization of right-wing extremism with practical solidarity with the victims. From this initiative , the Association of Victims' Perspective was created in 2000, the first counseling center for victims of right-wing violence in Germany. In 2001 the work was funded by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth as part of the federal program "CIVITAS - initiative against right-wing extremism" and formed the starting point for the establishment of comparable institutions in all the new federal states and Berlin. Since July 1, 2007, the association has been funded by the Brandenburg Ministry of Education as part of the CIVITAS successor program Competent for Democracy .

According to the statutes, the members of the association “Opferperspektiven” see “their task in creating social conditions in which every person, regardless of national, ethnic, religious, sexually-oriented or ideological background, can move freely and without fear and participate equally in social life " .

By protecting minorities against right-wing extremist violence, the association is committed to “promoting democracy” . In addition, the association works “in the field of crime prevention , helping victims of crime and supporting people who have been attacked and who are consequently dependent on the help of others. It promotes and supports measures in the field of education and youth welfare . "

The Association of Victims' Perspective has an office in Potsdam and employs eight people.

Explanation of terms: victim's perspective

According to its self-image, the counseling facility wants to make the perspective of victims of right-wing violence heard. The work of the association is based on consistent partisanship on the part of the victims. The aim of the support is to make acts of violence as effective as possible. Ways should be opened up for those affected so that they do not withdraw from social life. Based on the understanding that right-wing violence has social and political causes, the association does not limit itself to providing the victims with individual support. The program states: “The victims of right-wing violence are not only interested in processing the consequences of an attack as well as possible. The attack should not have happened and must not happen again. The social conditions that made the attack possible must change. ” To this end, the victims' perspective opens up important insights and enables learning processes for the supporters. This is intended to encourage solidarity processes with the victims and right-wing extremist crimes are to be counteracted preventively.

Advice and monitoring

The victim perspective offers advice to victims of right-wing violence, their friends and relatives and witnesses. The advice is free, confidential and partial. The counselors come to a place that the victim can determine. If there is insufficient knowledge of the German language, the advice is supported by interpreters who are provided from the victim's perspective. No information will be passed on to third parties, not even to the police, without the consent of the person concerned. The advice is not linked to a criminal complaint.

The victim's perspective is based on the needs and wishes of those seeking counseling and tries to support them in the steps that are necessary to deal with the consequences of the violence. This usually includes:

• Psychosocial counseling,
• Advice on placing an advertisement,
• Accompaniment to the police, authorities and doctors,
• Support in legal proceedings,
• Clarification of the compensation claims z. B. according to the Victims Compensation Act (OEG) and application advice,
• Public relations and contact to the media,
• Mediation to local people who can provide support.

As part of this activity, the victim perspective has set up a research network and a system of monitoring for right-wing violence in Brandenburg. As part of the CIVITAS program, common standards were developed from 2002 to 2006 with associations in the other eastern German states. A common database has been used since 2005, which enables right-wing violent crimes to be recorded in East Germany and supplements the police data on perpetrators and groups of offenders with data on victims and groups of victims.

Publications

The victim perspective e. V. regularly publishes a newsletter under the title "Shadow Reports". It appears several times a year and reports on current developments in Brandenburg and the work of the advice center.

In addition, the association publishes advice, individual examinations and information brochures.

Other Projects

The association has been curator of the touring exhibition Victims of Right-Wing Violence since 2004 . Rebecca Forner's exhibition portrays 136 people who fell victim to right-wing violence between 1990 and 2005. The traveling exhibition is awarded to associations, initiatives and institutions from the victim's perspective. Since 2011 there has been a modified version of the exhibition with 169 panels for the victims of right-wing violence.

In cooperation with the Polish organization Nigdy Wiêcej (“Never again”), the association supported a project in 2008 to network civil society organizations in the field of monitoring right-wing extremist acts of violence and helping victims in Poland and Germany. The project results are compiled in the study Crime Monitoring and Victim Assistance in Poland and Germany published by Nigdy Więcej and the victim perspective . The core of the study is the evaluation of interviews with initiatives and non-governmental organizations that are active in the areas of monitoring / documentation and advising victims.

financing

Counseling for victims of right-wing violence has been sponsored by the Brandenburg state government since the second half of 2007 as part of the “ Tolerant Brandenburg ” concept. The funding comes from the federal program “Advisory Networks”, which has replaced the CIVITAS program. Public relations and educational work - exhibitions, publications, studies, seminars and events - is financed through grants and collaborations, according to the association. About 20 percent of the income comes from donations, fines and private grants, while about 80 percent are state grants (mainly from the state concept "Tolerantes Brandenburg" and from the federal funding program "Advisory Networks").

Prices

• 2000: Carl von Ossietzky Medal from the International League for Human Rights
• 2004: Prize of the Alliance for Democracy and Tolerance " Active for Democracy and Tolerance "

Web links

• Homepage
• Exhibition "Victims of Right Wing Violence"

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Articles of Association. Retrieved March 6, 2019 . 
2. ↑ The principle of the victim's perspective. Retrieved March 6, 2019 . 
3. ^ Victims of right-wing violence. Retrieved March 6, 2019 . 
4. ↑ Fatalities from right wing violence. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on May 1, 2016 ; accessed on March 6, 2019 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
5. ^ Hate Crime Monitoring and Victim Assistance in Poland and Germany. Retrieved March 6, 2019 . 
6. ↑ The victim perspective is further promoted. December 15, 2006, accessed March 6, 2019 .